Defn: A piece of music of a mournful character, to accompany funeralrites; a funeral hymn.The raven croaked, and hollow shrieks of owls Sung dirges at herfuneral. Ford.
DIRGEFULDirge"ful, a.
Defn: Funereal; moaning.Soothed sadly by the dirgeful wind. Coleridge.
DIRIGEDir"i*ge, n. Etym: [L. See Dirge.]
Defn: A service for the dead, in the Roman Catholic Church, being the first antiphon of Matins for the dead, of which Dirige is the first word; a dirge. Evensongs and placebo and dirige. Wyclif. Resort, I pray you, unto my sepulture To sing my dirige with great devotion. Lamentation of Mary Magdalene.
DIRIGENT Dir"i*gent, a. Etym: [L. dirigens, p. pr. of dirigere. See Direct, a.]
Defn: Directing. Baxter.
DIRIGENTDir"i*gent, n. (Geom.)
Defn: The line of motion along which a describent line or surface is carried in the genesis of any plane or solid figure; a directrix. Hutton.
DIRIGIBLEDir"i*gi*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being directed; steerable; as, a dirigible balloon.
DIRIMENTDir"i*ment, a. Etym: [L. dirimens, p. pr. of dirimere. See Dirempt.](Law)
Defn: Absolute. Diriment impediment (R. C. Ch.), an impediment that nullifies marriage.
DIRKDirk, n. Etym: [Ir. duirc.]
Defn: A kind of dagger or poniard; — formerly much used by the Scottish Highlander. Dirk knife, a clasp knife having a large, dirklike blade.
DIRKDirk, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirked; p. pr. & vb. n. Dirking.]
Defn: To stab with a dirk. Sir W. Scott.
DIRKDirk, a. Etym: [See Dark, a.]
Defn: Dark. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIRKDirk, v. t.
Defn: To darken. [Obs.] Spenser.
DIRKNESSDirk"ness, n.
Defn: Darkness. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DIRLDirl, v. i. & t. Etym: [Cf. Drill, Thrill.]
Defn: To thrill; to vibrate; to penetrate. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
DIRTDirt, n. Etym: [OE. drit; kin to Icel. drit excrement, drita to dung,OD. drijten to dung, AS. gedritan.]
1. Any foul of filthy substance, as excrement, mud, dust, etc.; whatever, adhering to anything, renders it foul or unclean; earth; as, a wagonload of dirt. Whose waters cast up mire and dirt. Is. lvii. 20.
2. Meanness; sordidness. Honors . . . thrown away upon dirt and infamy. Melmoth.
3. In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc., before washing. Dirt bed (Geom.), a layer of clayey earth forming a stratum in a geological formation. Dirt beds are common among the coal measures. — Dirt eating. (a) The use of certain kinds of clay for food, existing among some tribes of Indians; geophagism. Humboldt. (b) (Med.) Same as Chthonophagia. — Dirt pie, clay or mud molded by children in imitation of pastry. Otway (1684). — To eat dirt, to submit in a meanly humble manner to insults; to eat humble pie.
DIRTDirt, v. t.
Defn: To make foul of filthy; to dirty. Swift.
DIRTILYDirt"i*ly, adv.
Defn: In a dirty manner; foully; nastily; filthily; meanly; sordidly.
DIRTINESSDirt"i*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being dirty; filthiness; foulness; nastiness; baseness; sordidness.
DIRTYDirt"y, a. [Compar. Dirtier; superl. Dirtiest.]
1. Defiled with dirt; foul; nasty; filthy; not clean or pure; serving to defile; as, dirty hands; dirty water; a dirty white. Spenser.
2. Sullied; clouded; — applied to color. Locke.
3. Sordid; base; groveling; as, a dirty fellow. The creature's at his dirty work again. Pope.
4. Sleety; gusty; stormy; as, dirty weather. Storms of wind, clouds of dust, an angry, dirty sea. M. Arnold.
Syn.— Nasty; filthy; foul. See Nasty.
DIRTYDirt"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirtied; p. pr. & vb. n. Dirtying.]
1. To foul; to make filthy; to soil; as, to dirty the clothes or hands.
2. To tarnish; to sully; to scandalize; — said of reputation, character, etc.
DIRUPTIONDi*rup"tion, n. Etym: [L. diruptio, fr. dirumpere. See Disrupt, a.]
Defn: Disruption.
DIS-Dis- (; 258)
Defn: .
1. A prefix from the Latin, whence F. dés, or sometimes dé-, dis-. The Latin dis- appears as di- before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, becomes dif- before f, and either dis- or di- before j. It is from the same root as bis twice, and duo, E. two. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Di-, Dia-. Dis- denotes separation, a parting from, as in distribute, disconnect; hence it often has the force of a privative and negative, as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. Also intensive, as in dissever.
Note: Walker's rule of pronouncing this prefix is, that the s ought always to be pronounced like z, when the next syllable is accented and begins with "a flat mute [b, d, v, g, z], a liquid [l, m, n, r], or a vowel; as, disable, disease, disorder, disuse, disband, disdain, disgrace, disvalue, disjoin, dislike, dislodge, dismay, dismember, dismiss, dismount, disnatured, disrank, disrelish, disrobe." Dr. Webster's example in disapproving of Walker's rule and pronouncing dis- as diz in only one (disease) of the above words, is followed by recent orthoëpists. See Disable, Disgrace, and the other words, beginning with dis-, in this Dictionary.
2. A prefix from Gr. Di-.
DISDis, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: The god Pluto. Shak.
DISABILITYDis`a*bil"i*ty, n.; pl. Disabilities (.
1. State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like. Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted. Milton. Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability. Bancroft.
2. Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency. The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture. Abbott.
Syn. — Weakness; inability; incompetence; impotence; incapacity; incompetency; disqualification. — Disability, Inability. Inability is an inherent want of power to perform the thing in question; disability arises from some deprivation or loss of the needed competency. One who becomes deranged is under a disability of holding his estate; and one who is made a judge, of deciding in his own case. A man may decline an office on account of his inability to discharge its duties; he may refuse to accept a trust or employment on account of some disability prevents him from entering into such engagements.
DISABLEDis*a"ble, a.
Defn: Lacking ability; unable. [Obs.] "Our disable and unactive force." Daniel.
DISABLEDis*a"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabled; p. pr. & vb. n. Disabling.]
1. To render unable or incapable; to destroy the force, vigor, or power of action of; to deprive of competent physical or intellectual power; to incapacitate; to disqualify; to make incompetent or unfit for service; to impair. A Christian's life is a perpetual exercise, a wrestling and warfare, for which sensual pleasure disables him. Jer. Taylor. And had performed it, if my known offense Had not disabled me. Milton. I have disabled mine estate. Shak.
2. (Law)
Defn: To deprive of legal right or qualification; to render legallyincapable.An attainder of the ancestor corrupts the blood, and disables hischildren to inherit. Blackstone.
3. To deprive of that which gives value or estimation; to declare lacking in competency; to disparage; to undervalue. [Obs.] "He disabled my judgment." Shak.
Syn.— To weaken; unfit; disqualify; incapacitate.
DISABLEMENTDis*a"ble*ment, n.
Defn: Deprivation of ability; incapacity. Bacon.
DISABUSEDis`a*buse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabused; p. pr. & vb. n.Disabusing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + abuse; cf. F. désabuser.]
Defn: To set free from mistakes; to undeceive; to disengage from fallacy or deception; to set right. To undeceive and disabuse the people. South. If men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves or artifice, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. J. Adams.
DISACCOMMODATEDis`ac*com"mo*date, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + accommodate.]
Defn: To put to inconvenience; to incommode. [R.] Bp. Warburton.
DISACCOMMODATIONDis`ac*com`mo*da"tion, n.
Defn: A state of being unaccommodated or unsuited. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
DISACCORDDis`ac*cord", v. i. Etym: [Cf. F. désaccorder to cause discord.]
Defn: To refuse to assent. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISACCORDDis`ac*cord", n.
Defn: Disagreement. Pop. Sci. Monthly.
DISACCORDANTDis`ac*cord"ant, a.
Defn: Not accordant. Fabyan.
DISACCUSTOMDis`ac*cus"tom, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. désaccoutumer.]
Defn: To destroy the force of habit in; to wean from a custom.Johnson.
DISACIDIFYDis`a*cid"i*fy, v. t.
Defn: To free from acid.
DISACKNOWLEDGE Dis`ac*knowl"edge, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disacknowledged; p. pr. & vb. n. Disacknowledging.]
Defn: To refuse to acknowledge; to deny; to disown. [Obs.] South.
DISACQUAINT Dis`ac*quaint", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + acquaint: cf. OF. desacointier.]
Defn: To render unacquainted; to make unfamiliar. [Obs.]While my sick heart With dismal smart Is disacquainted never.Herrick.
DISACQUAINTANCEDis`ac*quaint"ance, n.
Defn: Neglect of disuse of familiarity, or familiar acquaintance.[Obs.] South.
DISACRYLDis*ac"ryl, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- (Gr. acrolein + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white amorphous substance obtained as a polymeric modification of acrolein.
DISADORNDis`a*dorn", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of ornaments. Congreve.
DISADVANCE Dis`ad*vance" (; 61), v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + advance: cf. OF. desavancier.]
Defn: To draw back, or cause to draw back. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISADVANTAGEDis`ad*van"tage (; 48, 61), n. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantage.]
1. Deprivation of advantage; unfavorable or prejudicial quality, condition, circumstance, or the like; that which hinders success, or causes loss or injury. I was brought here under the disadvantage of being unknown by sight to any of you. Burke. Abandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at disadvantage. Palfrey.
2. Loss; detriment; hindrance; prejudice to interest, fame, credit, profit, or other good. They would throw a construction on his conduct, to his disadvantage before the public. Bancroft.
Syn.— Detriment; injury; hurt; loss; damage.
DISADVANTAGEDis`ad*van"tage, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantager.]
Defn: To injure the interest of; to be detrimental to.
DISADVANTAGEABLEDis`ad*van"tage*a*ble, a.
Defn: Injurious; disadvantageous. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISADVANTAGEOUSDis*ad`van*ta"geous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désavantageux.]
Defn: Attended with disadvantage; unfavorable to success or prosperity; inconvenient; prejudicial; — opposed to advantageous; as, the situation of an army is disadvantageous for attack or defense. Even in the disadvantageous position in which he had been placed, he gave clear indications of future excellence. Prescott. — Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ly, adv. — Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ness, n.
DISADVENTURE Dis`ad*ven"ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + adventure: cf. OF. desaventure.]
Defn: Misfortune; mishap. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.
DISADVENTUROUSDis`ad*ven"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Unprosperous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISADVISEDis`ad*vise", v. t.
Defn: To advise against; to dissuade from. [R.] Boyle.
DISAFFECTDis`af*fect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disaffected; p. pr. & vb. n.Disaffecting.]
1. To alienate or diminish the affection of; to make unfriendly or less friendly; to fill with discontent and unfriendliness. They had attempted to disaffect and discontent his majesty's late army. Clarendon.
2. To disturb the functions of; to disorder. It disaffects the bowels. Hammond.
3. To lack affection for; to be alienated from, or indisposed toward; to dislike. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DISAFFECTEDDis`af*fect"ed, a.
Defn: Alienated in feeling; not wholly loyal. J. H. Newman.— Dis`af*fect"ed*ly, adv.— Dis`af*fect"ed*ness, n.
DISAFFECTIONDis`af*fec"tion, n.
1. State of being disaffected; alienation or want of affection or good will, esp. toward those in authority; unfriendliness; dislike. In the making laws, princes must have regard to . . . the affections and disaffections of the people. Jer. Taylor.
2. Disorder; bad constitution. [R.] Wiseman.
Syn. — Dislike; disgust; discontent; unfriendliness; alienation; disloyalty; hostility.
DISAFFECTIONATEDis`af*fec"tion*ate, a.
Defn: Not disposed to affection; unfriendly; disaffected. [R.]Blount.
DISAFFIRMDis`af*firm", v. t.
1. To assert the contrary of; to contradict; to deny; — said of that which has been asserted.
2. (Law)
Defn: To refuse to confirm; to annul, as a judicial decision, by a contrary judgment of a superior tribunal.
DISAFFIRMANCEDis`af*firm"ance, n.
1. The act of disaffirming; denial; negation.
2. (Law)
Defn: Overthrow or annulment by the decision of a superior tribunal; as, disaffirmance of judgment.
DISAFFIRMATIONDis*af`fir*ma"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disaffirming; negation; refutation.
DISAFFORESTDis`af*for"est, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disafforested; p. pr. & vb. n.Disafforesting.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + afforest: cf. OF. desaforester.](Eng. Law)
Defn: To reduce from the privileges of a forest to the state of common ground; to exempt from forest laws. By charter 9 Henry III. many forests were disafforested. Blackstone.
DISAGGREGATEDis*ag"gre*gate, v. t.
Defn: To destroy the aggregation of; to separate into component parts, as an aggregate mass.
DISAGGREGATIONDis*ag`gre*ga"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désagrégation.]
Defn: The separation of an aggregate body into its component parts.
DISAGREEDis`a*gree", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disagreed; p. pr. & vb. n.Disageeing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + agree: cf. F. désagréer todisplease.]
1. To fail to accord; not to agree; to lack harmony; to differ; to be unlike; to be at variance. They reject the plainest sense of Scripture, because it seems disagree with what they call reason. Atterbury.
2. To differ in opinion; to hold discordant views; to be at controversy; to quarrel. Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.
3. To be unsuited; to have unfitness; as, medicine sometimes disagrees with the patient; food often disagrees with the stomach or the taste.
Note: Usually followed by with, sometimes by to, rarely by from; as,I disagree to your proposal.
Syn.— To differ; vary; dissent.
DISAGREEABLEDis`a*gree"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désagréable.]
1. Not agreeable, conformable, or congruous; Preach you truly the doctrine which you have received, and each nothing that is disagreeable thereunto. Udall.
2. Exciting repugnance; offensive to the feelings or That which is disagreeable to one is many times agreeable to another, or disagreeable in a less degree. Wollaston.
DISAGREEABLENESSDis`a*gree"a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The state or quality of being; disagreeable; unpleasantness.
DISAGREEABLYDis`a*gree"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a disagreeable manner; unsuitably; offensively.
DISAGREEANCEDis`a*gree"ance, n.
Defn: Disagreement. [Obs.]
DISAGREEMENT Dis`a*gree"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désagrément disagreeable circumstance, disagreeableness.]
1. The state of disagreeing; a being at variance; dissimilitude; diversity.
2. Unsuitableness; unadaptedness. [R.]
3. Difference of opinion or sentiment.
4. A falling out, or controversy; difference.
Syn. — Difference; diversity; dissimilitude; unlikeness; discrepancy; variance; dissent; misunderstanding; dissension; division; dispute; jar; wrangle; discord.
DISAGREERDis`a*gre"er, n.
Defn: One who disagrees. Hammond.
DISALLIEGEDis`al*liege", v. t.
Defn: To alienate from allegiance. [Obs. & R.] Milton.
DISALLOWDis`al*low", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disallowed; p. pr. & vb. n.Disallowing.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + allow: cf. OF. desalouer, desloer,to blame, dissuade.]
Defn: To refuse to allow; to deny the force or validity of; to disown and reject; as, the judge disallowed the executor's charge. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God. 1 Pet. ii. 4. That the edicts of Cæsar we may at all times disallow, but the statutes of God for no reason we may reject. Milton.
Note: This verb was sometimes followed by of; as, "What follows, if we disallow of this" Shak. See Allow.
Syn.— To disapprove; prohibit; censure; reject.
DISALLOWABLEDis`al*low"a*ble, a.
Defn: Not allowable; not to be suffered. Raleigh.— Dis`al*low"a*ble*ness, n.
DISALLOWANCEDis`al*low"ance, n.
Defn: The act of disallowing; refusal to admit or permit; rejection.
Syn.— Disapprobation; prohibition; condemnation; censure; rejection.
DISALLYDis`al*ly", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + ally: cf. F. désaltier.]
Defn: To part, as an alliance; to sunder. [R.] "Disallied their nuptials." Milton.
DISANCHOR Dis*an"chor, v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. dis- + anchor: cf. F. désancrer.]
Defn: To raise the anchor of, as a ship; to weigh anchor. [Obs.]Heywood.
DISANGELICALDis`an*gel"ic*al, a.
Defn: Not angelical. [R.] "Disangelical nature." Coventry.
DISANIMATEDis*an"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disanimated; p. pr. & vb. n.Disanimating.]
1. To deprive of life. [R.] Cudworth.
2. To deprive of spirit; to dishearten. Shak.
DISANIMATIONDis*an`i*ma"tion, n.
1. Privation of life. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
2. The state of being disanimated or discouraged; depression of spirits.
DISANNEXDis`an*nex", v. t.
Defn: To disunite; to undo or repeal the annexation of. State Trials (1608).
DISANNULDis`an*nul", v. t.
Defn: To annul completely; to render void or of no effect. For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul Isaiah xiv. 27.
Note: The prefix in this word an its derivatives is intensive, and not negative.
DISANNULLERDis`an*nul"ler, n.
Defn: One who disannuls.
DISANNULMENTDis`an*nul"ment, n.
Defn: Complete annulment.
DISANOINTDis`a*noint", v. t.
Defn: To invalidate the consecration of; as, to disanoint a king.[Obs.] Milton.
DISAPPAREL Dis`ap*par"el, v. t. Etym: [See Apparel, v. t.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + apparel: cf. OF. desapareiller.]
Defn: To disrobe; to strip of apparel; to make naked.Drink disapparels the soul. Junius (1635).
DISAPPEARDis`ap*pear", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disappeared; p. pr. & vb. n.Disappearing.]
1. To cease to appear or to be perceived; to pass from view, gradually or suddenly; to vanish; to be no longer seen; as, darkness disappears at the approach of light; a ship disappears as she sails from port.
2. To cease to be or exist; as, the epidemic has disappeared.
DISAPPEARANCEDis`ap*pear"ance, n.
Defn: The act of disappearing; cessation of appearance; removal from sight; vanishing. Addison.
DISAPPEARINGDis`ap*pear"ing,
Defn: p. pr. & vb. n. of Disappear.
Disappearing carriage (Ordnance), a carriage for heavy coast guns on which the gun is raised above the parapet for firing and upon discharge is lowered behind the parapet for protection. The standard type of disappearing carriage in the coast artillery of the United States army is the Buffington-Crozier carriage, in which the gun trunnions are secured at the upper and after ends of a pair of heavy levers, at the lower ends of which is attached a counterweight of lead. The levers are pivoted at their middle points, which are, with the top carriage, permitted restrained motion along the slightly inclined chassis rails. The counterweight is held in place by a pawl and ratchet. When the gun is loaded the pawl is released and the counterweight sinks, raising the gun to the firing position above the parapet. The recoil following the discharge returns the gun to the loading position, the counterweight rising until the pawl engages the ratchet.
DISAPPENDENCYDis`ap*pend"en*cy, n.
Defn: A detachment or separation from a former connection. [R.]
DISAPPENDENTDis`ap*pend"ent, a.
Defn: Freed from a former connection or dependence; disconnected.[R.]
DISAPPOINTDis`ap*point", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapointed; p. pr. & vb. n.Disappointing.] Etym: [OF. desapointier, F. désappointer; pref. des-(L. dis-) + apointier, F. appointier, to appoint. See Appoint.]
1. To defeat of expectation or hope; to hinder from the attainment of that which was excepted, hoped, or desired; to balk; as, a man is disappointed of his hopes or expectations, or his hopes, desires, intentions, expectations, or plans are disappointed; a bad season disappoints the farmer of his crops; a defeat disappoints an enemy of his spoil. I was disappointed, but very agreeably. Macaulay.
Note: Disappointed of a thing not obtained; disappointed in a thing obtained.
2. To frustrate; to fail; to hinder of result. His retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the blow. Addison.
Syn. — To tantalize; fail; frustrate; balk; baffle; delude; foil; defeat. See Tantalize.
DISAPPOINTEDDis`ap*point"ed, a.
1. Defeated of expectation or hope; balked; as, a disappointed person or hope.
2. Unprepared; unequipped. [Obs.] Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled. Shak.
DISAPPOINTMENTDis`ap*point"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désappointement.]
1. The act of disappointing, or the state of being disappointed; defeat or failure of expectation or hope; miscarriage of design or plan; frustration. If we hope for things of which we have not thoroughly considered the value, our disappointment will be greater our pleasure in the fruition of them. Addison. In disappointment thou canst bless. Keble.
2. That which disappoints.
Syn.— Miscarriage; frustration; balk.
DISAPPRECIATEDis`ap*pre"ci*ate, v. t. Etym: [See Appreciate.]
Defn: To undervalue; not to esteem.— Dis`ap*pre`ci*a"tion, n.
DISAPPROBATION Dis*ap`pro*ba"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + approbation: cf. F. désapprobation. Cf. Disapprove.]
Defn: The act of disapproving; mental condemnation of what is judged wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; feeling of censure. We have ever expressed the most unqualified disapprobation of all the steps. Burke.
DISAPPROBATORYDis*ap"pro*ba`to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove.
DISAPPROPRIATEDis`ap*pro"pri*ate, a. (Law)
Defn: Severed from the appropriation or possession of a spiritualcorporation.The appropriation may be severed, and the church becomedisappropriate, two ways. Blackstone.
DISAPPROPRIATEDis`ap*pro"pri*ate, v. t.
1. To release from individual ownership or possession. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To sever from appropriation or possession a spiritualcorporation.Appropriations of the several parsonages . . . would heave been, bythe rules of the common law, disappropriated. Blackstone.
DISAPPROPRIATIONDis`ap*pro`pri*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of disappropriating.
DISAPPROVALDis`ap*prov"al, n.
Defn: Disapprobation; dislike; censure; adverse judgment.
DISAPPROVEDis`ap*prove, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapproved; p. pr. & vb. n.Disapproving.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. déapprouver. Cf.Disapprobation.]
1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others.
2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to sanction; as, the sentence of the court-martial was disapproved by the commander in chief.
Note: This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve.
DISAPPROVERDis`ap*prov"er, n.
Defn: One who disapproves.
DISAPPROVINGLYDis`ap*prov"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a disapproving manner.
DISARDDis"ard, n.
Defn: See Dizzard. [Obs.] Burton.
DISARMDis*arm", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarming; p. pr. & vb. n. Disarming.]Etym: [OE. desarmen, F. désarmer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + armer toarm. See Arm.]
1. To deprive of arms; to take away the weapons of; to deprive of the means of attack or defense; to render defenseless. Security disarms the best-appointed army. Fuller. The proud was half disarmed of pride. Tennyson.
2. To deprive of the means or the disposition to harm; to render harmless or innocuous; as, to disarm a man's wrath.
DISARMAMENTDis*arm"a*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. désarmement.]
Defn: The act of disarming.
DISARMATUREDis*ar"ma*ture, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + armature.]
Defn: The act of divesting of armature. [R.]
DISARMEDDis*armed", a.
1. Deprived of arms.
2. (Her.)
Defn: Deprived of claws, and teeth or beaks. Cussans.
DISARMERDis*arm"er, n.
Defn: One who disarms.
DISARRANGEDis`ar*range", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarranged; p. pr. & vb. n.Disarranging.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + arrange: cf. F. désarranger.]
Defn: To unsettle or disturb the order or due arrangement of; to throw out of order.
DISARRANGEMENTDis`ar*range"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disarranging, or the state of being disarranged; confusion; disorder. Cowper.
DISARRAYDis`ar*ray", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarrayed; p. pr. & vb. n.Disarraying.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + array, v.: cf. OF. desarroyer,desarreier.]
1. To throw into disorder; to break the array of. Who with fiery steeds Oft disarrayed the foes in battle ranged. Fenton.
2. To take off the dress of; to unrobe. So, as she bade, the witch they disarrayed. Spenser.
DISARRAYDis`ar*ray", n. Etym: [Cf. F. désarroi.]
1. Want of array or regular order; disorder; confusion. Disrank the troops, set all in disarray. Daniel.
2. Confused attire; undress. Spenser.
DISARRAYMENTDis`ar*ray"ment, n.
Defn: Disorder. [R.] Feltham.
DISARTICULATEDis`ar*tic"u*late, v. t.
Defn: To sunder; to separate, as joints.— Dis`ar*tic`u*la"tion, n.
DISARTICULATORDis`ar*tic"u*la`tor, n.
Defn: One who disarticulates and prepares skeletons.
DISASSENTDis`as*sent", v. i.
Defn: To dissent. [Obs.]
DISASSENTDis`as*sent", n.
Defn: Dissent. [Obs.] E. Hall.
DISASSENTERDis`as*sent"er, n.
Defn: One who disassents; a dissenter. [Obs.] State Trials (1634).
DISASSIDUITYDis*as`si*du"i*ty, n.
Defn: Want of as siduity or care. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.
DISASSIMILATEDis`as*sim"i*late, v. t. (Physiol.)
Defn: To subject to disassimilation.
DISASSIMILATIONDis`as*sim`i*la"tion, n. (Physics)
Defn: The decomposition of complex substances, within the organism, into simpler ones suitable only for excretion, with evolution of energy, — a normal nutritional process the reverse of assimilation; downward metabolism. The breaking down of already existing chemical compounds into simpler ones, sometimes called disassimilation. Martin.
DISASSIMILATIVEDis`as*sim"i*la*tive, a. (Physiol.)
Defn: Having power to disassimilate; of the nature ofdisassimilation.Disassimilative processes constitute a marked feature in the life ofanimal cells. McKendrick.
DISASSOCIATEDis`as*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disassociated; p. pr. & vb. n.Disassociating.]
Defn: To disconnect from things associated; to disunite; to dissociate. Florio.
DISASTERDis*as"ter, n. Etym: [F. désastre; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + astre star,fr. L. astrum; a word of astrological origin. See Aster, Astral,Star.]
1. An unpropitious or baleful aspect of a planet or star; malevolent influence of a heavenly body; hence, an ill portent. [Obs.] Disasters in the sun. Shak.
2. An adverse or unfortunate event, esp. a sudden and extraordinary misfortune; a calamity; a serious mishap. But noble souls, through dust and heat, Rise from disaster and defeat The stronger. Longfellow.
Syn. — Calamity; misfortune; mishap; mischance; visitation; misadventure; ill luck. See Calamity.
DISASTERDis*as"ter, v. t.
1. To blast by the influence of a baleful star. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.
2. To bring harm upon; to injure. [R.] Thomson.
DISASTERLYDis*as"ter*ly, adv.
Defn: Disastrously. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISASTROUSDis*as"trous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. désastreux. See Disaster.]
1. Full of unpropitious stellar influences; unpropitious; ill-boding. [Obs.] The moon In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds. Milton.
2. Attended with suffering or disaster; very unfortunate; calamitous; ill-fated; as, a disastrous day; a disastrous termination of an undertaking. Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances. Shak. — Dis*as"trous*ly, adv. — Dis*as"trous*ness, n.
DISATTIREDis`at*tire", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + attire: cf. OF. desatirier.]
Defn: To unrobe; to undress. Spenser.
DISAUGMENTDis`aug*ment", v. t.
Defn: To diminish. [R.]
DISAUTHORIZEDis*au"thor*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of credit or authority; to discredit. [R.] W.Wotton.
DISAVAUNCEDis`a*vaunce", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disadvance.]
Defn: To retard; to repel; to do damage to. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISAVENTUREDis`a*ven"ture, n. Etym: [See Disadventure, Adventure.]
Defn: Misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISAVENTUROUSDis`a*ven"tur*ous, a.
Defn: Misadventurous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISAVOUCHDis`a*vouch", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + avouch. Cf. Disavow.]
Defn: To disavow. [R.] Daniel.
DISAVOWDis`a*vow", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disavowed; p. pr. & vb. n.Disavowing.] Etym: [F. désavouer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + avouer toavow. See Avow, and cf. Disavouch.]
1. To refuse strongly and solemnly to own or acknowledge; to deny responsibility for, approbation of, an the like; to disclaim; to disown; as, he was charged with embezzlement, but he disavows the crime. A solemn promise made and disavowed. Dryden.
2. To deny; to show the contrary of; to disprove. Yet can they never Toss into air the freedom of my birth, Or disavow my blood Plantagenet's. Ford.
DISAVOWALDis`a*vow"al, n.
Defn: The act of disavowing, disclaiming, or disowning; rejection anddenial.An earnest disavowal of fear often proceeds from fear. Richardson.
DISAVOWANCEDis`a*vow"ance, n.
Defn: Disavowal. [Obs.] South.
DISAVOWERDis`a*vow"er, n.
Defn: One who disavows.
DISAVOWMENTDis`a*vow"ment, n.
Defn: Disavowal. [R.] Wotton.
DISBAND Dis*band" (; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbanded; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbanding.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + band: cf. OF. desbander, F. débander, to unbind, unbend. See Band, and cf. Disbend, Disbind.]
1. To loose the bands of; to set free; to disunite; to scatter; to disperse; to break up the organization of; especially, to dismiss from military service; as, to disband an army. They disbanded themselves and returned, every man to his own dwelling. Knolles.
2. To divorce. [Obs.] And therefore . . . she ought to be disbanded. Milton.
DISBANDDis*band", v. i.
Defn: To become separated, broken up, dissolved, or scattered; especially, to quit military service by breaking up organization.
When both rocks and all things shall disband. Herbert.Human society would in a short space disband. Tillotson.
DISBANDMENTDis*band"ment, n.
Defn: The act of disbanding.
DISBARDis*bar", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Disbarring.](Law)
Defn: To expel from the bar, or the legal profession; to deprive (an attorney, barrister, or counselor) of his status and privileges as such. Abbott.
DISBARK Dis*bark", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + bark a small ship: cf. OF. desbarquer, F. débarquer. Cf. Debark, Disembark.]
Defn: To disembark. Pope.
DISBARKDis*bark", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + bark rind.]
Defn: To strip of bark; to bark. [R.] Boyle.
DISBARMENTDis*bar"ment, n.
Defn: Act of disbarring.
DISBASEDis*base", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Debase.]
Defn: To debase or degrade. [Obs.] Nor you nor your house were so much as spoken of before I disbased myself. B. Jonson.
DISBECOMEDis`be*come", v. t.
Defn: To misbecome. [Obs.] Massinger.
DISBELIEFDis*be*lief", n.
Defn: The act of disbelieving;; a state of the mind in which one is fully persuaded that an opinion, assertion, or doctrine is not true; refusal of assent, credit, or credence; denial of belief. Our belief or disbelief of a thing does not alter the nature of the thing. Tillotson. No sadder proof can be given by a man of his own littleness that disbelief in great men. Carlyle.
Syn. — Distrust; unbelief; incredulity; doubt; skepticism. — Disbelief, Unbelief. Unbelief is a mere failure to admit; disbelief is a positive rejection. One may be an unbeliever in Christianity from ignorance or want of inquiry; a unbeliever has the proofs before him, and incurs the guilt of setting them aside. Unbelief is usually open to conviction; disbelief is already convinced as to the falsity of that which it rejects. Men often tell a story in such a manner that we regard everything they say with unbelief. Familiarity with the worst parts of human nature often leads us into a disbelief in many good qualities which really exist among men.
DISBELIEVEDis`be*lieve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbelieved; p. pr. & vb. n.Disbelieving.]
Defn: Not to believe; to refuse belief or credence to; to hold not to be true or actual. Assertions for which there is abundant positive evidence are often disbelieved, on account of what is called their improbability or impossibility. J. S. Mill.
DISBELIEVERDis`be*liev"er, n.
Defn: One who disbelieves, or refuses belief; an unbeliever.Specifically, one who does not believe the Christian religion. I.Watts.
DISBENCHDis*bench", v. t.
1. To drive from a bench or seat. [R.] Shak.
2. (Eng. Law)
Defn: To deprive (a bencher) of his privileges. Mozley & W.
DISBENDDis*bend, v. t.
Defn: To unbend. [Obs.] Stirling.
DISBINDDis*bind", v. t. Etym: [Cf. Disband.]
Defn: To unbind; to loosen. [Obs.] Mede.
DISBLAMEDis*blame", v. t. Etym: [OE. desblamen, OF. desblasmer; pref. des-(L. dis-) + blasmer, F. blâmer, to blame.]
Defn: To clear from blame. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISBODIEDDis*bod"ied, a.
Defn: Disembodied. [R.]
DISBOSCATIONDis`bos*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + F. bosquet grove.]
Defn: Converting forest land into cleared or arable land; removal of a forest. Sir W. Scott.
DISBOWELDis*bow"el, v. t. Etym: [See Bowel, v. t.]
Defn: To disembowel. [R.] Spenser.
DISBRANCHDis*branch", v. t. Etym: [See Branch, v.]
Defn: To divest of a branch or branches; to tear off. Shak.
DISBUDDis*bud", v. t. Etym: [See Bud, v.] (Hort.)
Defn: To deprive of buds or shoots, as for training, or economizing the vital strength of a tree.
DISBURDENDis*bur"den, v. t. Etym: [See Burden, v. t.] Etym: [Cf. Disburthen.]
Defn: To rid of a burden; to free from a load borne or from something oppressive; to unload; to disencumber; to relieve. He did it to disburden a conscience. Feltham. My mediations . . . will, I hope, be more calm, being thus disburdened. Hammond.
Syn.— To unload; unburden; discharge; free.
DISBURDENDis*bur"den, v. i.
Defn: To relieve one's self of a burden; to ease the mind. Milton.
DISBURGEONDis*bur"geon, v. t.
Defn: To strip of burgeons or buds; to disbud. [R.] Holland.
DISBURSEDis*burse", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disbursed; p. pr. & vb. n.Disbursing.] Etym: [OF. desbourser, F. débourser; pref. des- (L. dis-) + bourse purse. See Burse, and cf. Dispurse.]
Defn: To pay out; to expend; — usually from a public fund ortreasury.The duty of collecting and disbursing his revenues. Macaulay.Disbursing officer, an officer in any department of the publicservice who is charged with the duty of paying out public money.
DISBURSEMENTDis*burse"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déboursement.]
1. The act of disbursing or paying out. The disbursement of the public moneys. U. S. Statutes.
2. That which is disbursed or paid out; as, the annual disbursements exceed the income.
DISBURSERDis*burs"er, n.
Defn: One who disburses money.
DISBURTHENDis*bur"then, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disburthened; p. pr. & vb. n.Disburthening.] Etym: [Cf. Disburden.]
Defn: To disburden; to relieve of a load. [Archaic]
DISCDisc, n. Etym: [See Disk, Dish.]
Defn: A flat round plate; (Biol.)
Defn: a circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disc, a germinal disc, etc. Same as Disk.
DISCAGEDis*cage", v. t.
Defn: To uncage. [R.] Tennyson.
DISCALDisc"al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a disk; as, discal cells.
DISCALCEATE Dis*cal"ce*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. discalceatus unshod; dis- + calceus shoe.]
Defn: To pull off shoes or sandals from. [Obs.] Cockeram.
DISCALCEATEDDis*cal"ce*at`ed, a.
Defn: Deprived off shoes or sandals; unshod; discalced.
DISCALCEATIONDis*cal`ce*a"tion, n.
Defn: The act of pulling off the shoes or sandals. [Obs.] Sir T.Browne.
DISCALCEDDis*calced", a.
Defn: Unshod; barefooted; — in distinction from calced. "The foundation of houses of discalced friars." Cardinal Manning's St. Teresa.
DISCAMPDis*camp", v. t. Etym: [See Decamp.]
Defn: To drive from a camp. [Obs.] Holland.
DISCANDYDis*can"dy, v. i.
Defn: To melt; to dissolve; to thaw. [Obs.]
DISCANTDis"cant, n.
Defn: See Descant, n.
DISCAPACITATEDis*ca*pac"i*tate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of capacity; to incapacitate. [R.]
DISCARDDis*card", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discarded; p. pr. & vb. n.Discarding.]
1. (Card Playing)
Defn: To throw out of one's hand, as superfluous cards; to lay aside (a card or cards).
2. To cast off as useless or as no longer of service; to dismiss from employment, confidence, or favor; to discharge; to turn away. They blame the favorites, and think it nothing extraordinary that the queen should . . . resolve to discard them. Swift.
3. To put or thrust away; to reject. A man discards the follies of boyhood. I. Taylor.
Syn.— To dismiss; displace; discharge; cashier.
DISCARDDis*card", v. i. (Card Playing)
Defn: To make a discard.
DISCARDDis*card", n. (Card Playing)
Defn: The act of discarding; also, the card or cards discarded.
DISCARDUREDis*car"dure, n.
Defn: Rejection; dismissal. [R.] Hayter.
DISCARNATE Dis*car"nate, a. Etym: [L. dis- + carnatus fleshy, fr. caro, carnis, flesh.]
Defn: Stripped of flesh. [Obs.] "Discarnate bones." Glanvill.
DISCASEDis*case", v. t.
Defn: To strip; to undress. Shak.
DISCEDEDis*cede", v. i. Etym: [L. discedere; dis- + cedere to yield.]
Defn: To yield or give up; to depart. [Obs.]I dare not discede from my copy a tittle. Fuller.
DISCEPTDis*cept", v. i. Etym: [L. disceptare.]
Defn: To debate; to discuss. [R.] One dissertates, he is candid; Two must discept, — has distinguished. R. Browning.
DISCEPTATIONDis`cep*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. disceptatio.]
Defn: Controversy; disputation; discussion. [Archaic]Verbose janglings and endless disceptations. Strype.
DISCEPTATORDis`cep*ta"tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: One who arbitrates or decides. [R.] Cowley.
DISCERNDis*cern", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discerned; p. pr. & vb. n.Discerning.] Etym: [F. discerner, L. discernere, discretum; dis- +cernere to separate, distinguish. See Certain, and cf. Discreet.]
1. To see and identify by noting a difference or differences; to note the distinctive character of; to discriminate; to distinguish. To discern such buds as are fit to produce blossoms. Boyle. A counterfeit stone which thine eye can not discern from a right stone. Robynson (More's Utopia).
2. To see by the eye or by the understanding; to perceive and recognize; as, to discern a difference. And [I] beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. Prov. vii. 7. Our unassisted sight . . . is not acute enough to discern the minute texture of visible objects. Beattie. I wake, and I discern the truth. Tennyson.
Syn. — To perceive; distinguish; discover; penetrate; discriminate; espy; descry; detect. See Perceive.
DISCERNDis*cern", v. i.
1. To see or understand the difference; to make distinction; as, to discern between good and evil, truth and falsehood. More than sixscore thousand that cannot discern between their right hand their left. Jonah iv. 11.
2. To make cognizance. [Obs.] Bacon.
DISCERNANCEDis*cern"ance, n.
Defn: Discernment. [Obs.]
DISCERNERDis*cern"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, discerns, distinguishes, perceives, or judges; as, a discerner of truth, of right and wrong. A great observer and discerner of men's natures. Clarendon.
DISCERNIBLEDis*cern"i*ble, a. Etym: [L. discernibilis.]
Defn: Capable of being discerned by the eye or the understanding; as, a star is discernible by the eye; the identity of difference of ideas is discernible by the understanding. The effect of the privations and sufferings . . . was discernible to the last in his temper and deportment. Macaulay.
Syn. — Perceptible; distinguishable; apparent; visible; evident; manifest.
DISCERNIBLENESSDis*cern"i*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being discernible.
DISCERNIBLYDis*cern"i*bly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to be discerned; perceptibly; visibly. Hammond.
DISCERNINGDis*cern"ing, a.
Defn: Acute; shrewd; sagacious; sharp-sighted. Macaulay.
DISCERNINGLYDis*cern"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a discerning manner; with judgment; judiciously; acutely.Garth.
DISCERNMENTDis*cern"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. discernement.]
1. The act of discerning.
2. The power or faculty of the mind by which it distinguishes one thing from another; power of viewing differences in objects, and their relations and tendencies; penetrative and discriminate mental vision; acuteness; sagacity; insight; as, the errors of youth often proceed from the want of discernment.
Syn. — Judgment; acuteness; discrimination; penetration; sagacity; insight. — Discernment, Penetration, Discrimination. Discernment is keenness and accuracy of mental vision; penetration is the power of seeing deeply into a subject in spite of everything that intercepts the view; discrimination is a capacity of tracing out minute distinctions and the nicest shades of thought. A discerning man is not easily misled; one of a penetrating mind sees a multitude of things which escape others; a discriminating judgment detects the slightest differences.
DISCERP Dis*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. discerpere, discerptum; dis- + carpere to pluck.]
1. To tear in pieces; to rend. [R.] Stukeley.
2. To separate; to disunite. [R.] Bp. Hurd.
DISCERPIBILITY; DISCERPTIBILITYDis*cerp`i*bil"i*ty, Dis*cerp`ti*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Capability or liableness to be discerped. [R.] Wollaston.
DISCERPIBLE; DISCERPTIBLEDis*cerp"i*ble, Dis*cerp"ti*ble, a. Etym: [See Discerp.]
Defn: Capable of being discerped. [R.]
DISCERPTIONDis*cerp"tion, n. Etym: [L. discerptio.]
Defn: The act of pulling to pieces, or of separating the parts. Bp.Hall.
DISCERPTIVEDis*cerp"tive, a.
Defn: Tending to separate or disunite parts. Encys. Dict.
DISCESSIONDis*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. discessio, fr. discedere, discessum. SeeDiscede.]
Defn: Departure. [Obs.]
DISCHARGEDis*charge", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discharged; p. pr. & vb. n.Discharging.] Etym: [OE. deschargen, dischargen, OF. deschargier, F.décharger; pref. des- (L. dis) + chargier, F. charger. See Charge.]
1. To relieve of a charge, load, or burden; to empty of a load or cargo; to unburden; to unload; as, to discharge a vessel.
2. To free of the missile with which anything is charged or loaded; to let go the charge of; as, to discharge a bow, catapult, etc.; especially, said of firearms, — to fire off; to shoot off; also, to relieve from a state of tension, as a Leyden jar. The galleys also did oftentimes, out of their prows, discharge their great pieces against the city. Knolles. Feeling in other cases discharges itself in indirect muscular actions. H. Spencer.
3. To of something weighing upon or impeding over one, as a debt, claim, obligation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear. Discharged of business, void of strife. Dryden. In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty. L'Estrange.
4. To relieve of an office or employment; to send away from service;to dismiss.Discharge the common sort With pay and thanks. Shak.Grindal . . . was discharged the government of his see. Milton.
5. To release legally from confinement; to set at liberty; as, to discharge a prisoner.
6. To put forth, or remove, as a charge or burden; to take out, as that with which anything is loaded or filled; as, to discharge a cargo.
7. To let fly, as a missile; to shoot. They do discharge their shot of courtesy. Shak.
8. To set aside; to annul; to dismiss. We say such an order was "discharged on appeal." Mozley & W. The order for Daly's attendance was discharged. Macaulay.
9. To throw off the obligation of, as a duty or debt; to relieve one's self of, by fulfilling conditions, performing duty, trust, and the like; hence, to perform or ex Had I a hundred tongues, a wit so large As could their hundred offices discharge. Dryden.
10. To send away (a creditor) satisfied by payment; to pay one's debt or obligation to. [Obs.] If he had The present money to discharge the Jew. Shak.
11. To give forth; to emit or send out; as, a pipe discharges water; to let fly; to give expression to; to utter; as, to discharge a horrible oath.
12. To prohibit; to forbid. [Scot. Obs.] Sir W. Scott. Discharging arch (Arch.), an arch over a door, window, or other opening, to distribute the pressure of the wall above. See Illust. of Lintel. — Discharging piece, Discharging strut (Arch.), a piece set to carry thrust or weight to a solid point of support. — Discharging rod (Elec.), a bent wire, with knobs at both ends, and insulated by a glass handle. It is employed for discharging a Leyden jar or an electrical battery. See Discharger.
Syn.— See Deliver.
DISCHARGEDis*charge", v. i.
Defn: To throw off or deliver a load, charge, or burden; to unload;to emit or give vent to fluid or other contents; as, the water pipedischarges freely.The cloud, if it were oily or fatty, would not discharge. Bacon.
DISCHARGEDis*charge", n. Etym: [Cf. F. décharge. See Discharge, v. t.]
1. The act of discharging; the act of relieving of a charge or load; removal of a load or burden; unloading; as, the discharge of a ship; discharge of a cargo.
2. Firing off; explosive removal of a charge; explosion; letting off; as, a discharge of arrows, of artillery.
3. Act of relieving of something which oppresses or weighs upon one, as an obligation, liability, debt, accusation, etc.; acquittance; as, the discharge of a debtor.
4. Act of removing, or getting rid of, an obligation, liability, etc.; fulfillment, as by the payment of a debt, or the performance of a trust or duty. Indefatigable in the discharge of business. Motley. Nothing can absolve us from the discharge of those duties. L'Estrange.
5. Release or dismissal from an office, employment, etc.; dismission; as, the discharge of a workman by his employer.
6. Legal release from confinement; liberation; as, the discharge of a prisoner.
7. The state of being discharged or relieved of a debt, obligation, office, and the like; acquittal. Too secure of our discharge From penalty. Milton.
8. That which discharges or releases from an obligation, liability, penalty, etc., as a price of ransom, a legal document. Death, who sets all free, Hath paid his ransom now and full discharge. Milton.
9. A flowing or issuing out; emission; vent; evacuation; also, that which is discharged or emitted; as, a rapid discharge of water from the pipe. The hemorrhage being stopped, the next occurrence is a thin serous discharge. S. Sharp.
Charge and discharge. (Equity Practice) See under Charge, n. — Paralytic discharge (Physiol.), the increased secretion from a gland resulting from the cutting of all of its nerves.
DISCHARGERDis*char"ger, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, discharges. Specifically, in electricity, an instrument for discharging a Leyden jar, or electrical battery, by making a connection between the two surfaces; a discharging rod.
DISCHEVELEDis*chev"ele, a.
Defn: Disheveled. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DISCHURCHDis*church", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of status as a church, or of membership in a church.Bp. Hall.
DISCIDEDis*cide", v. t. Etym: [L. discidere; dis- + caedere to cut.]
Defn: To divide; to cleave in two. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISCIFEROUSDis*cif"er*ous, a. Etym: [Disc- + -ferous.]
Defn: Bearing disks.
DISCIFLORAL; DISCIFLOROUSDis`ci*flo"ral, Dis`ci*flo"rous, a. Etym: [See Disk, and Floral.](Bot.)
Defn: Bearing the stamens on a discoid outgrowth of the receptacle; - - said of a subclass of plants. Cf. Calycifloral.
DISCIFORMDis"ci*form, a.
Defn: Discoid.
DISCINADis*ci"na, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. discus disk, Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of Branchiopoda, having a disklike shell, attached by one valve, which is perforated by the peduncle.
DISCINCT Dis*cinct, a. Etym: [L. discinctus, p. p. of discingere to ungird; dis- + cingere to gird.]
Defn: Ungirded; loosely dressed. [R.] Sir W. Scott.
DISCIND Dis*cind", v. t. Etym: [L. discindere; dis- + scindere to cut, split.]
Defn: To part; to divide. [Obs.] Boyle.
DISCIPLE Dis*ci"ple, n. Etym: [OE. disciple, deciple, OF. disciple, fr. L. discipulus, fr. discere to learn (akin to docere to teach; see Docile) + prob. a root meaning to turn or drive, as in L. pellere to drive (see Pulse).]
Defn: One who receives instruction from another; a scholar; a learner; especially, a follower who has learned to believe in the truth of the doctrine of his teacher; an adherent in doctrine; as, the disciples of Plato; the disciples of our Savior. The disciples, or The twelve disciples, the twelve selected companions of Jesus; — also called the apostles. — Disciples of Christ. See Christian, n., 3, and Campbellite.