2. The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination. To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth, distinction is requisite. Hooker.
3. That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good. The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter. Locke.
4. Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance. Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall. Dryden.
5. Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction. Your country's own means of distinction and defense. D. Webster.
Syn. — Difference; variation, variety; contrast; diversity; contrariety; disagreement; discrimination; preference; superiority; rank; note; eminence.
DISTINCTIVEDis*tinc"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distinctif.]
1. Marking or expressing distinction or difference; distinguishing; characteristic; peculiar. The distinctive character and institutions of New England. Bancroft.
2. Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DISTINCTIVELYDis*tinc"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: With distinction; plainly.
DISTINCTIVENESSDis*tinc"tive*ness, n.
Defn: State of being distinctive.
DISTINCTLYDis*tinct"ly, adv.
1. With distinctness; not confusedly; without the blending of one part or thing another; clearly; plainly; as, to see distinctly.
2. With meaning; significantly. [Obs.] Thou dost snore distinctly; There's meaning in thy snores. Shak.
Syn.— Separately; clearly; plainly; obviously.
DISTINCTNESSDis*tinct"ness, n.
1. The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference that prevents confusion of parts or things. The soul's . . . distinctness from the body. Cudworth.
2. Nice discrimination; hence, clearness; precision; as, he stated his arguments with great distinctness.
Syn.— Plainness; clearness; precision; perspicuity.
DISTINCTUREDis*tinc"ture, n.
Defn: Distinctness. [R.]
DISTINGUISH Dis*tin"guish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] Etym: [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.]
1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic. Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. Dryden. Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. Nares.
2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low. Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. T. Burnet.
3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum. We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. Watts. Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. Shak.
4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ. Who distinguisheth thee 1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).
5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; — with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." Johnson.
Syn. — To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.
DISTINGUISHDis*tin"guish, v. i.
1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; — with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.
2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self oritself discernible. [R.]The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. Jer.Taylor.
DISTINGUISHABLEDis*tin"guish*a*ble, a.
1. Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible; capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable from a shrub. A simple idea being in itself uncompounded . . . is not distinguishable into different ideas. Locke.
2. Worthy of note or special regard. Swift.
DISTINGUISHABLENESSDis*tin"guish*a*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being distinguishable.
DISTINGUISHABLYDis*tin"guish*a*bly, adv.
Defn: So as to be distinguished.
DISTINGUISHEDDis*tin"guished, a.
1. Marked; special. The most distinguished politeness. Mad. D' Arblay.
2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; — applied to persons and deeds.
Syn. — Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent. — Distinguished, Eminent, Conspicuous, Celebrated, Illustrious. A man is eminent, when he stands high as compared with those around him; conspicuous, when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed; distinguished, when he has something which makes him stand apart from others in the public view; celebrated, when he is widely spoken of with honor and respect; illustrious, when a splendor is thrown around him which confers the highest dignity.
DISTINGUISHEDLYDis*tin"guish*ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a distinguished manner. [R.] Swift.
DISTINGUISHERDis*tin"guish*er, n.
1. One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from another by marks of diversity. Sir T. Browne.
2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or judicious observer. Dryden.
DISTINGUISHINGDis*tin"guish*ing, a.
Defn: Constituting difference, or distinction from everything else; distinctive; peculiar; characteristic. The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion. Locke. Distinguishing pennant (Naut.), a special pennant by which any particular vessel in a fleet is recognized and signaled. Simmonds.
DISTINGUISHINGLYDis*tin"guish*ing*ly, adv.
Defn: With distinction; with some mark of preference. Pope.
DISTINGUISHMENTDis*tin"guish*ment, n.
Defn: Observation of difference; distinction. Graunt.
DISTITLEDis*ti"tle, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of title or right. [R.] B. Jonson.
DISTOMADis"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A genus of parasitic, trematode worms, having two suckers for attaching themselves to the part they infest. See 1st Fluke,
2.
DISTORT Dis*tort", a. Etym: [L. distortus, p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion.]
Defn: Distorted; misshapen. [Obs.]Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spenser.
DISTORTDis*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distorted; p. pr. & vb. n.Distorting.]
1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically; as, to distort the limbs, or the body. Whose face was distorted with pain. Thackeray.
2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally. Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson.
3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning.
Syn.— To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.
DISTORTERDis*tort"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, distorts.
DISTORTIONDis*tor"tion, n. Etym: [L. distortio: cf. F. distortion.]
1. The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body.
2. A wresting from the true meaning. Bp. Wren.
3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion.
4. (Med.)
Defn: An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity.
DISTORTIVEDis*tort"ive, a.
Defn: Causing distortion.
DISTRACT Dis*tract", a. Etym: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]
1. Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.]
2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISTRACT Dis*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distracted, old p. p. Distraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Distracting.]
1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin. A city . . . distracted from itself. Fuller.
2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention. Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination. Goldsmith.
3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass. Horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts. Milton.
4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; — most frequently used in the participle, distracted. A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her. Shak.
DISTRACTEDDis*tract"ed, a.
Defn: Mentally disordered; unsettled; mad.My distracted mind. Pope.
DISTRACTEDLYDis*tract"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Disjointedly; madly. Shak.
DISTRACTEDNESSDis*tract"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being distracted; distraction. Bp. Hall.
DISTRACTERDis*tract"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, distracts away.
DISTRACTFULDis*tract"ful, a.
Defn: Distracting. [R.] Heywood.
DISTRACTIBLEDis*tract"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being drawn aside or distracted.
DISTRACTILEDis*tract"ile, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Tending or serving to draw apart.
DISTRACTINGDis*tract"ing, a.
Defn: Tending or serving to distract.
DISTRACTIONDis*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. distractio: cf. F. distraction.]
1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation. To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet.
2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. "Domestic distractions." G. Eliot.
3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [Obs.] His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all species. Shak.
4. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity. That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor. vii. 3
5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions. Never was known a night of such distraction. Dryden.
6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair. The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.
7. Derangement of the mind; madness. Atterbury.
Syn. — Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult; derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness.
DISTRACTIOUSDis*trac"tious, a.
Defn: Distractive. [Obs.]
DISTRACTIVEDis*trac"tive, a.
Defn: Causing perplexity; distracting. "Distractive thoughts." Bp.Hall.
DISTRAIN Dis*train", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrained; p. pr. & vb. n. Distraining.] Etym: [OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere, districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain, and cf. Distress, District, Distraint.]
1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [Obs.] "Distrained with chains." Chaucer.
2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.] Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain. Spenser.
3. (Law) (a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an amercement. (b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.
DISTRAINDis*train", v. i.
Defn: To levy a distress.Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden.
DISTRAINABLEDis*train"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, distrained. Blackstone.
DISTRAINERDis*train"er, n.
Defn: Same as Distrainor.
DISTRAINORDis*train"or, n. (Law)
Defn: One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels.Blackstone.
DISTRAINTDis*traint", n. Etym: [OF. destrainte distress, force.] (Law)
Defn: The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress.Abbott.
DISTRAITDis`trait", a. Etym: [F. See Distract.]
Defn: Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted.
DISTRAUGHTDis*traught", p. p. & a. Etym: [OE. distract, distrauht. SeeDistract, a.]
1. Torn asunder; separated. [Obs.] "His greedy throat . . . distraught." Spenser.
2. Distracted; perplexed. "Distraught twixt fear and pity." Spenser. As if thou wert distraught and mad with terror. Shak. To doubt betwixt our senses and our souls Which are the most distraught and full of pain. Mrs. Browning.
DISTRAUGHTEDDis*traught"ed, a.
Defn: Distracted. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISTREAMDis*tream", v. i. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + stream.]
Defn: To flow. [Poetic]Yet o'er that virtuous blush distreams a tear. Shenstone.
DISTRESS Dis*tress", n. Etym: [OE. destresse, distresse, OF. destresse, destrece, F. détresse, OF. destrecier to distress, (assumed) LL. districtiare, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere. See Distrain, and cf. Stress.]
1. Extreme pain or suffering; anguish of body or mind; as, to suffer distress from the gout, or from the loss of friends. Not fearing death nor shrinking for distress. Shak.
2. That which occasions suffering; painful situation; misfortune; affliction; misery. Affliction's sons are brothers in distress. Burns.
3. A state of danger or necessity; as, a ship in distress, from leaking, loss of spars, want of provisions or water, etc.
4. (Law) (a) The act of distraining; the taking of a personal chattel out of the possession of a wrongdoer, by way of pledge for redress of an injury, or for the performance of a duty, as for nonpayment of rent or taxes, or for injury done by cattle, etc. (b) The thing taken by distraining; that which is seized to procure satisfaction. Bouvier. Kent. Burrill. If he were not paid, he would straight go and take a distress of goods and cattle. Spenser. The distress thus taken must be proportioned to the thing distrained for. Blackstone. Abuse of distress. (Law) See under Abuse.
Syn.— Affliction; suffering; pain; agony; misery; torment; anguish;grief; sorrow; calamity; misfortune; trouble; adversity. SeeAffliction.
DISTRESSDis*tress", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distressed; p. pr. & vb. n.Distressing.] Etym: [Cf. OF. destrecier. See Distress, n.]
1. To cause pain or anguish to; to pain; to oppress with calamity; to afflict; to harass; to make miserable. We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed. 2 Cor. iv. 8.
2. To compel by pain or suffering. Men who can neither be distressed nor won into a sacrifice of duty. A. Hamilton.
3. (Law)
Defn: To seize for debt; to distrain.
Syn.— To pain; grieve; harass; trouble; perplex; afflict; worry; annoy.
DISTRESSEDNESSDis*tress"ed*ness, n.
Defn: A state of being distressed or greatly pained.
DISTRESSFULDis*tress"ful, a.
Defn: Full of distress; causing, indicating, or attended with,distress; as, a distressful situation. "Some distressful stroke."Shak. "Distressful cries." Pope.— Dis*tress"ful*ly, adv.
DISTRESSINGDis*tress"ing, a.
Defn: Causing distress; painful; unpleasant.
DISTRESSINGDis*tress"ing, adv.
Defn: In a distressing manner.
DISTRIBUTABLEDis*trib"u*ta*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being distributed. Sir W. Jones.
DISTRIBUTARYDis*trib"u*ta*ry, a.
Defn: Tending to distribute or be distributed; that distributes; distributive.
DISTRIBUTEDis*trib"ute, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distributed; p. pr. & vb. n.Distributing.] Etym: [L. distributus, p. p. of distribuere to divide,distribute; dis- + tribuere to assign, give, allot. See Tribute.]
1. To divide among several or many; to deal out; to apportion; to allot. She did distribute her goods to all them that were nearest of kindred. Judith xvi. 24.
2. To dispense; to administer; as, to distribute justice. Shak.
3. To divide or separate, as into classes, orders, kinds, or species; to classify; to assort, as specimens, letters, etc.
4. (Printing) (a) To separate (type which has been used) and return it to the proper boxes in the cases. (b) To spread (ink) evenly, as upon a roller or a table.
5. (Logic)
Defn: To employ (a term) in its whole extent; to take as universal inone premise.A term is said to be distributed when it is taken universal, so as tostand for everything it is capable of being applied to. Whately.
Syn.— To dispense; deal out; apportion; allot; share; assign; divide.
DISTRIBUTEDis*trib"ute, v. i.
Defn: To make distribution.Distributing to the necessity of saints. Rom. xii. 13.
DISTRIBUTERDis*trib"u*ter, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, distributes or deals out anything; a dispenser. Addison.
DISTRIBUTINGDis*trib"u*ting, a.
Defn: That distributes; dealing out. Distributing past office, an office where the mails for a large district are collected to be assorted according to their destination and forwarded.
DISTRIBUTIONDis`tri*bu"tion, n. Etym: [L. distributio: cf. F. distribution.]
1. The act of distributing or dispensing; the act of dividing or apportioning among several or many; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate among heirs or children. The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly analogous to those of geography. A. R. Wallace.
2. Separation into parts or classes; arrangement of anything into parts; disposition; classification.
3. That which is distributed. "Our charitable distributions." Atterbury.
4. (Logic)
Defn: A resolving a whole into its parts.
5. (Print.)
Defn: The sorting of types and placing them in their proper boxes in the cases.
6. (Steam Engine)
Defn: The steps or operations by which steam is supplied to and withdrawn from the cylinder at each stroke of the piston; viz., admission, suppression or cutting off, release or exhaust, and compression of exhaust steam prior to the next admission. Geographical distribution, the natural arrangements of animals and plants in particular regions or districts.
Syn. — Apportionments; allotment; dispensation; disposal; dispersion; classification; arrangement.
DISTRIBUTIONALDis`tri*bu"tion*al, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to distribution. Huxley.
DISTRIBUTIONISTDis`tri*bu"tion*ist, n.
Defn: A distributer. [R.] Dickens.
DISTRIBUTIVEDis*trib"u*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distributif.]
1. Tending to distribute; serving to divide and assign in portions; dealing to each his proper share. "Distributive justice." Swift.
2. (Logic)
Defn: Assigning the species of a general term.
3. (Gram.)
Defn: Expressing separation; denoting a taking singly, not collectively; as, a distributive adjective or pronoun, such as each, either, every; a distributive numeral, as (Latin) bini (two by two). Distributive operation (Math.), any operation which either consists of two or more parts, or works upon two or more things, and which is such that the result of the total operation is the same as the aggregated result of the two or more partial operations. Ordinary multiplication is distributive, since a × (b + c) = ab + ac, and (a + b) × c = ac + bc. — Distributive proportion. (Math.) See Fellowship.
DISTRIBUTIVEDis*trib"u*tive, n. (Gram.)
Defn: A distributive adjective or pronoun; also, a distributive numeral.
DISTRIBUTIVELYDis*trib"u*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By distribution; singly; not collectively; in a distributive manner.
DISTRIBUTIVENESSDis*trib"u*tive*ness, n.
Defn: Quality of being distributive.
DISTRIBUTOR Dis*trib"u*tor, n. [L.] One that distributes; a distributer; specif.: (a) A machine for distributing type. (b) An appliance, as a roller, in a printing press, for distributing ink. (c) An apparatus for distributing an electric current, either to various points in rotation, as in some motors, or along two or more lines in parallel, as in a distributing system.
DISTRICTDis"trict, a. Etym: [L. districtus, p. p.]
Defn: Rigorous; stringent; harsh. [Obs.]Punishing with the rod of district severity. Foxe.
DISTRICT Dis"trict, n. Etym: [LL. districtus district, fr. L. districtus, p. p. of distringere: cf. F. district. See Distrain.]
1. (Feudal Law)
Defn: The territory within which the lord has the power of coercing and punishing.
2. A division of territory; a defined portion of a state, town, or city, etc., made for administrative, electoral, or other purposes; as, a congressional district, judicial district, land district, school district, etc. To exercise exclusive legislation . . . over such district not exceeding ten miles square. The Constitution of the United States.
3. Any portion of territory of undefined extent; a region; a country;a tract.These districts which between the tropics lie. Blackstone.Congressional district. See under Congressional.— District attorney, the prosecuting officer of a district ordistrict court.— District court, a subordinate municipal, state, or United Statestribunal, having jurisdiction in certain cases within a judicialdistrict.— District judge, one who presides over a district court.— District school, a public school for the children within a schooldistrict. [U.S.]
Syn.— Division; circuit; quarter; province; tract; region; country.
DISTRICTDis"trict, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Districted; p. pr. & vb. n.Districting.]
Defn: To divide into districts or limited portions of territory; as, legislatures district States for the choice of representatives.
DISTRICTIONDis*tric"tion, n. Etym: [L. districtio a stretching out.]
Defn: Sudden display; flash; glitter. [R.]A smile . . . breaks out with the brightest distriction. Collier.
DISTRICTLYDis"trict*ly, adv.
Defn: Strictly. [Obs.] Foxe.
DISTRINGASDis*trin"gas, n. Etym: [L., that you distrain, fr. distringere. SeeDistrain.] (Law)
Defn: A writ commanding the sheriff to distrain a person by his goods or chattels, to compel a compliance with something required of him.
DISTROUBLEDis*trou"ble, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + trouble.]
Defn: To trouble. [Obs.] Spenser.
DISTRUSTDis*trust", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrusted; p. pr. & vb. n.Distrusting.] Etym: [Cf. Mistrust.]
Defn: To feel absence of trust in; not to confide in or rely upon; to deem of questionable sufficiency or reality; to doubt; to be suspicious of; to mistrust. Not distrusting my health. 2 Mac. ix. 22. To distrust the justice of your cause. Dryden. He that requireth the oath doth distrust that other. Udall. Of all afraid, Distrusting all, a wise, suspicious maid. Collins.
Note: Mistrust has been almost wholly driven out by distrust. T. L.K. Oliphant.
DISTRUSTDis*trust", n.
1. Doubt of sufficiency, reality, or sincerity; want of confidence, faith, or reliance; as, distrust of one's power, authority, will, purposes, schemes, etc.
2. Suspicion of evil designs. Alienation and distrust . . . are the growth of false principles. D. Webster.
3. State of being suspected; loss of trust. Milton.
DISTRUSTERDis*trust"er, n.
Defn: One who distrusts.
DISTRUSTFULDis*trust"ful, a.
1. Not confident; diffident; wanting confidence or thrust; modest; as, distrustful of ourselves, of one's powers. Distrustful sense with modest caution speaks. Pope.
2. Apt to distrust; suspicious; mistrustful. Boyle.— Dis*trust"ful*ly, adv.— Dis*trust"ful*ness, n.
DISTRUSTINGDis*trust"ing, a.
Defn: That distrusts; suspicious; lacking confidence in.— Dis*trust"ing*ly, adv.
DISTRUSTLESSDis*trust"less, a.
Defn: Free from distrust. Shenstone.
DISTUNEDis*tune", v. t.
Defn: To put out of tune. [Obs.]
DISTURB Dis*turb", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disturbed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disturbing.] Etym: [OE. desturben, destourben, OF. destorber, desturber, destourber, fr. L. disturbare, disturbatum; dis- + turbare to disturb, trouble, turba disorder, tumult, crowd. See Turbid.]
1. To throw into disorder or confusion; to derange; to interrupt the settled state of; to excite from a state of rest. Preparing to disturb With all-cofounding war the realms above. Cowper. The bellow's noise disturbed his quiet rest. Spenser. The utmost which the discontented colonies could do, was to disturb authority. Burke.
2. To agitate the mind of; to deprive of tranquillity; to disquiet; to render uneasy; as, a person is disturbed by receiving an insult, or his mind is disturbed by envy.
3. To turn from a regular or designed course. [Obs.] And disturb His inmost counsels from their destined aim. Milton.
Syn. — To disorder; disquiet; agitate; discompose; molest; perplex; trouble; incommode; ruffle.
DISTURBDis*turb", n.
Defn: Disturbance. [Obs.] Milton.
DISTURBANCEDis*turb"ance, n. Etym: [OF. destorbance.]
1. An interruption of a state of peace or quiet; derangement of the regular course of things; disquiet; disorder; as, a disturbance of religious exercises; a disturbance of the galvanic current.
2. Confusion of the mind; agitation of the feelings; perplexity; uneasiness. Any man . . . in a state of disturbance and irritation. Burke.
3. Violent agitation in the body politic; public commotion; tumult. The disturbance was made to support a general accusation against the province. Bancroft.
4. (Law)
Defn: The hindering or disquieting of a person in the lawful and peaceable enjoyment of his right; the interruption of a right; as, the disturbance of a franchise, of common, of ways, and the like. Blackstone.
Syn. — Tumult; brawl; commotion; turmoil; uproar; hubbub; disorder; derangement; confusion; agitation; perturbation; annoyance.
DISTURBATIONDis`tur*ba"tion, n. Etym: [L. disturbatio.]
Defn: Act of disturbing; disturbance. [Obs.] Daniel.
DISTURBERDis*turb"er, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. destorbeor.]
1. One who, or that which, disturbs of disquiets; a violator of peace; a troubler. A needless disturber of the peace of God's church and an author of dissension. Hooker.
2. (Law)
Defn: One who interrupts or incommodes another in the peaceable enjoyment of his right.
DISTURNDis*turn", v. t. Etym: [OF. destourner, F. détourner. See Detour.]
Defn: To turn aside. [Obs.] Daniel.
DISTYLEDis"tyle, a. Etym: [Gr. distyle.] (Arch.)
Defn: Having two columns in front; — said of a temple, portico, or the like. Distyle in antis, having columns between two antæ. See Anta.
DISULPHATE Di*sul"phate, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphate.] (Chem.) (a) A salt of disulphuric or pyrosulphuric acid; a pyrosulphate. (b) An acid salt of sulphuric acid, having only one equivalent of base to two of the acid.
DISULPHIDEDi*sul"phide (; 104), n. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphide.] (Chem.)
Defn: A binary compound of sulphur containing two atoms of sulphur in each molecule; — formerly called disulphuret. Cf. Bisulphide.
DISULPHURETDi*sul"phu*ret, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphuret.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Disulphide.
DISULPHURICDi`sul*phu"ric, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + sulphuric.] (Chem.)
Defn: Applied to an acid having in each molecule two atoms of sulphur in the higher state of oxidation. Disulphuric acid, a thick oily liquid, H2S2O7, called also Nordhausen acid (from Nordhausen in the Harts, where it was originally manufactured), fuming sulphuric acid, and especially pyrosulphuric acid. See under Pyrosulphuric.
DISUNIFORMDis*u"ni*form, a.
Defn: Not uniform. [Obs.]
DISUNIONDis*un"ion, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + union: cf. F. désunion.]
1. The termination of union; separation; disjunction; as, the disunion of the body and the soul.
2. A breach of concord and its effect; alienation. Such a disunion between the two houses as might much clouClarendon.
3. The termination or disruption of the union of the States formingthe United States.I have not accustomed myself to hang over the precipice of disunion.D. Webster.
DISUNIONISTDis*un"ion*ist, n.
Defn: An advocate of disunion, specifically, of disunion of theUnited States.
DISUNITEDis`u*nite", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disunited; p. pr. & vb. n.Disuniting.]
1. To destroy the union of; to divide; to part; to sever; to disjoin; to sunder; to separate; as, to disunite particles of matter.
2. To alienate in spirit; to break the concord of. Go on both in hand, O nations, never be disunited, be the praise . . . of all posterity! Milton.
DISUNITEDis`u*nite", v. i.
Defn: To part; to fall asunder; to become separated.The joints of the body politic do separate and disunite. South.
DISUNITERDis`u*nit"er, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, disjoins or causes disunion.
DISUNITYDis*u"ni*ty, n.
Defn: A state of separation or disunion; want of unity. Dr. H. More.
DISUSAGEDis*us"age, n.
Defn: Gradual cessation of use or custom; neglect of use; disuse.[R.] Hooker.
DISUSEDis*use" (; see Dis-), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disused; p. pr. & vb. n.Disusing.]
1. To cease to use; to discontinue the practice of.
2. To disaccustom; — with to or from; as, disused to toil. "Disuse me from . . . pain." Donne.
DISUSEDis*use", n.
Defn: Cessation of use, practice, or exercise; inusitation;desuetude; as, the limbs lose their strength by disuse.The disuse of the tongue in the only . . . remedy. Addison.Church discipline then fell into disuse. Southey.
DISUTILIZEDis*u"til*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of utility; to render useless. [R.] Mrs. Browning.
DISVALUATIONDis*val`u*a"tion, n.
Defn: Disesteem; depreciation; disrepute. Bacon.
DISVALUEDis*val"ue (; see Dis-), v. t.
Defn: To undervalue; to depreciate. Shak.
DISVALUEDis*val"ue, n.
Defn: Disesteem; disregard. B. Jonson.
DISVANTAGEOUSDis`van*ta"geous, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + vantage.]
Defn: Disadvantageous. [Obs.] "Disadvantageous ground." Drayton.
DISVELOPDis*vel"op, v. t.
Defn: To develop. [Obs.]
DISVENTUREDis*ven"ture, n.
Defn: A disadventure. [Obs.] Shelton.
DISVOUCHDis*vouch", v. t.
Defn: To discredit; to contradict. [Obs.] Shak.
DISWARNDis*warn", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + warn.]
Defn: To dissuade from by previous warning. [Obs.]
DISWITTEDDis*wit"ted, a.
Defn: Deprived of wits or understanding; distracted. [Obs.] Drayton.
DISWONTDis*wont", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of wonted usage; to disaccustom. [R.] Bp. Hall.
DISWORKMANSHIPDis*work"man*ship, n.
Defn: Bad workmanship. [Obs.] Heywood.
DISWORSHIPDis*wor"ship, v. t.
Defn: To refuse to worship; to treat as unworthy. [Obs.] Sir T. More.
DISWORSHIPDis*wor"ship, n.
Defn: A deprivation of honor; a cause of disgrace; a discredit.[Obs.] Milton.
DISWORTHDis*worth", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of worth; to degrade. [Obs.] Feltham.
DISYOKEDis*yoke", v. t.
Defn: To unyoke; to free from a yoke; to disjoin. [Poetic] R.Browning.
DITDit, n. Etym: [Ditty.]
1. A word; a decree. [Obs.]
2. A ditty; a song. [Obs.]
DITDit, v. t. Etym: [AS. dyttan, akin to Icel. ditta.]
Defn: To close up. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.
DITATION Di*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. ditare to enrich, fr. dis, ditis, same as dives, rich.]
Defn: The act of making rich; enrichment. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DITCH Ditch (; 224), n.; pl. Ditches. Etym: [OE. dich, orig. the same word as dik. See Dike.]
1. A trench made in the earth by digging, particularly a trench for draining wet land, for guarding or fencing inclosures, or for preventing an approach to a town or fortress. In the latter sense, it is called also a moat or a fosse.
2. Any long, narrow receptacle for water on the surface of the earth.
DITCHDitch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Ditched; p. pr. & vb. n. Ditching.]
1. To dig a ditch or ditches in; to drain by a ditch or ditches; as, to ditch moist land.
2. To surround with a ditch. Shak.
3. To throw into a ditch; as, the engine was ditched and turned on its side.
DITCHDitch, v. i.
Defn: To dig a ditch or ditches. Swift.
DITCHERDitch"er, n.
Defn: One who digs ditches.
DITEDite, v. t. Etym: [See Dight.]
Defn: To prepare for action or use; to make ready; to dight. [Obs.]His hideous club aloft he dites. Spenser.
DITEREBENEDi*ter"e*bene, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + terebene.] (Chem.)
Defn: See Colophene.
DITHECAL; DITHECOUSDi*the"cal, Di*the"cous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + theca.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having two thecæ, cells, or compartments.
DITHEISMDi"the*ism, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + theism: cf. F. dithéisme.]
Defn: The doctrine of those who maintain the existence of two gods or of two original principles (as in Manicheism), one good and one evil; dualism.
DITHEISTDi"the*ist, n.
Defn: One who holds the doctrine of ditheism; a dualist. Cudworth.
DITHEISTIC; DITHEISTICALDi`the*is"tic, Di`the*is"tic*al, a.
Defn: Pertaining to ditheism; dualistic.
DITHIONICDi`thi*on"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + -thionic.] (Chem.)
Defn: Containing two equivalents of sulphur; as, dithionic acid. Dithionic acid (Chem.), an unstable substance, H2S2O6, known only in its solutions, and in certain well-defined salts.
DITHYRAMBDith"y*ramb, n. Etym: [L. dithyrambus, Gr. dithyrambe.]
Defn: A kind of lyric poetry in honor of Bacchus, usually sung by a band of revelers to a flute accompaniment; hence, in general, a poem written in a wild irregular strain. Bentley.
DITHYRAMBICDith`y*ram"bic, a. Etym: [L. dithyrambicus, Gr. dithyrambique.]
Defn: Pertaining to, or resembling, a dithyramb; wild and boisterous. "Dithyrambic sallies." Longfellow. — n.
Defn: A dithyrambic poem; a dithyramb.
DITHYRAMBUSDith`y*ram"bus, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: See Dithyramb.
DITIONDi"tion, n. Etym: [L. ditio, dicio: cf. F. dition.]
Defn: Dominion; rule. [Obs.] Evelyn.
DITIONARYDi"tion*a*ry, a.
Defn: Under rule; subject; tributary. [Obs.] Chapman.
DITIONARYDi"tion*a*ry, n.
Defn: A subject; a tributary. [Obs.] Eden.
DITOKOUS Di"to*kous, a. Etym: [Gr. (Zoöl.) (a) Having two kinds of young, as certain annelids. (b) Producing only two eggs for a clutch, as certain birds do.
DITOLYLDi*tol"yl, n. Etym: [Pref. di- + tolyl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A white, crystalline, aromatic hydrocarbon, C14H14, consisting of two radicals or residues of toluene.
DITONEDi"tone`, n. Etym: [Gr. (Mus.)
Defn: The Greek major third, which comprehend two major tones (the modern major third contains one major and one minor whole tone).
DITRICHOTOMOUSDi`tri*chot"o*mous, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + trichotomous.]
1. Divided into twos or threes.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Dividing into double or treble ramifications; — said of a leaf or stem. [R.] Loudon.
DITROCHEANDi`tro*che"an, a. (Pros.)
Defn: Containing two trochees.
DITROCHEEDi*tro"chee, n. Etym: [L. ditrochaeus, Gr. (Pros.)
Defn: A double trochee; a foot made up of two trochees.
DITROITEDit"ro*ite, n. Etym: [Named from Ditro in Transylvania.] (Min.)
Defn: An igneous rock composed of orthoclase, elæolite, and sodalite.
DITTDitt, n.
Defn: See Dit, n.,
2. [Obs.] Spenser.
DITTANDERDit*tan"der, n. Etym: [See Dittany.] (Bot.)
Defn: A kind of peppergrass (Lepidium latifolium).
DITTANY Dit"ta*ny, n. Etym: [OE. dytane, detane, dytan, OF. ditain, F. dictame, L. dictamnum, fr. Gr. Dicte in Crete. Cf. Dittander.] (Bot.) (a) A plant of the Mint family (Origanum Dictamnus), a native of Crete. (b) The Dictamnus Fraxinella. See Dictamnus. (c) In America, the Cunila Mariana, a fragrant herb of the Mint family.
DITTIEDDit"tied, a. Etym: [From Ditty.]
Defn: Set, sung, or composed as a ditty; — usually in composition.Who, with his soft pipe, and smooth-dittied song. Milton.
DITTODit"to, n.; pl. Dittos (. Etym: [It., detto, ditto, fr. L. dictum.See Dictum.]
Defn: The aforesaid thing; the same (as before). Often contracted to do., or to two "turned commas" ("), or small marks. Used in bills, books of account, tables of names, etc., to save repetition. A spacious table in the center, and a variety of smaller dittos in the corners. Dickens.
DITTODit"to, adv.
Defn: As before, or aforesaid; in the same manner; also.
DITTOLOGYDit*tol"o*gy, n. Etym: [Gr.
Defn: A double reading, or twofold interpretation, as of a Scripture text. [R.]
DITTY Dit"ty, n.; pl. Ditties. Etym: [OE. dite, OF. ditié, fr. L. dictatum, p. p. neut. of dictare to say often, dictate, compose. See Dictate, v. t.]
1. A saying or utterance; especially, one that is short and frequently repeated; a theme. O, too high ditty for my simple rhyme. Spenser.
2. A song; a lay; a little poem intended to be sung. "Religious, martial, or civil ditties." Milton.ditties sing. Sandys.
DITTYDit"ty, v. i.
Defn: To sing; to warble a little tune.Beasts fain would sing; birds ditty to their notes. Herbert.
DITTY-BAGDit"ty-bag`, n.
Defn: A sailor's small bag to hold thread, needles, tape, etc.; — also called sailor's housewife.
DITTY-BOXDit"ty-box`, n.
Defn: A small box to hold a sailor's thread, needless, comb, etc.
DIUREIDEDi*u"re*ide, n. Etym: [Di- + ureide.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of a series of complex nitrogenous substances regarded as containing two molecules of urea or their radicals, as uric acid or allantoin. Cf. Ureide.
DIURESISDi`u*re"sis, n. Etym: [NL. See Diuretic.] (Med.)
Defn: Free excretion of urine.
DIURETICDi`u*ret"ic, a. Etym: [L. diureticus, Gr. diurétique.] (Med.)
Defn: Tending to increase the secretion and discharge of urine.— n.
Defn: A medicine with diuretic properties. Diuretic salt (Med.), potassium acetate; — so called because of its diuretic properties.
DIURETICALDi`u*ret"ic*al, a.
Defn: Diuretic. [Obs.] Boyle.
DIURETICALNESSDi`u*ret"ic*al*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diuretical; diuretic property.
DIURNADi*ur"na, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. L. diurnus belonging to the day.](Zoöl.)
Defn: A division of Lepidoptera, including the butterflies; — so called because they fly only in the daytime.
DIURNALDi*ur"nal, a. Etym: [L. diurnalis, fr. dies day. See Deity, and cf.Journal.]
1. Relating to the daytime; belonging to the period of daylight, distinguished from the night; — opposed to Ant: nocturnal; as, diurnal heat; diurnal hours.
2. Daily; recurring every day; performed in a day; going through its changes in a day; constituting the measure of a day; as, a diurnal fever; a diurnal task; diurnal aberration, or diurnal parallax; the diurnal revolution of the earth. Ere twice the horses of the sun shall bring Their fiery torcher his diurnal ring. Shak.
3. (Bot.)
Defn: Opening during the day, and closing at night; — said of flowers or leaves.
4. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Active by day; — applied especially to the eagles and hawks among raptorial birds, and to butterflies (Diurna) among insects. Diurnal aberration (Anat.), the aberration of light arising from the effect of the earth's rotation upon the apparent direction of motion of light. — Diurnal arc, the arc described by the sun during the daytime or while above the horizon; hence, the arc described by the moon or a star from rising to setting. — Diurnal circle, the apparent circle described by a celestial body in consequence of the earth's rotation. — Diurnal motion of the earth, the motion of the earth upon its axis which is described in twentyfour hours. — Diurnal motion of a heavenly body, that apparent motion of the heavenly body which is due to the earth's diurnal motion. — Diurnal parallax. See under Parallax. — Diurnal revolution of a planet, the motion of the planet upon its own axis which constitutes one complete revolution.
Syn.— See Daily.
DIURNALDi*ur"nal, n. Etym: [Cf. F. diurnal a prayerbook. See Diurnal, a.]
1. A daybook; a journal. [Obs.] Tatler.
2. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: A small volume containing the daily service for the "little hours," viz., prime, tierce, sext, nones, vespers, and compline.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A diurnal bird or insect.
DIURNALISTDi*ur"nal*ist, n.
Defn: A journalist. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.
DIURNALLYDi*ur"nal*ly, adv.
Defn: Daily; every day.
DIURNALNESSDi*ur"nal*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being diurnal.
DIURNATIONDi`ur*na"tion, n.
1. Continuance during the day. [Obs.]
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: The condition of sleeping or becoming dormant by day, as is the case of the bats.
DIUTURNAL Di`u*tur"nal, a. Etym: [L. diuturnus, fr. diu a long time, by day; akin to dies day.]
Defn: Of long continuance; lasting. [R.] Milton.
DIUTURNITYDi`u*tur"ni*ty, n. Etym: [L. diuturnitas.]
Defn: Long duration; lastingness. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DIVA Di"va (de"va), n.; It. pl. Dive (de"va). [It., prop. fem. of divo divine, L. divus.]
Defn: A prima donna.
DIVAGATION Di`va*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. divagari to wander about; di- = dis- + vagari to stroll about: cf. F. divagation. See Vagary.]
Defn: A wandering about or going astray; digression.Let us be set down at Queen's Crawley without further divagation.Thackeray.
DIVALENTDiv"a*lent, a. Etym: [Pref. di- + L. valens, valentis, p. pr. SeeValence.] (Chem.)
Defn: Having two units of combining power; bivalent. Cf. Valence.
DIVAN Di*van", n. Etym: [Per. diwan a book of many leaves, an account book, a collection of books, a senate, council: cf. Ar. daiwan, F. divan.]
1. A book; esp., a collection of poems written by one author; as, the divan of Hafiz. [Persia]
2. In Turkey and other Oriental countries: A council of state; a royal court. Also used by the poets for a grand deliberative council or assembly. Pope.
3. A chief officer of state. [India]
4. A saloon or hall where a council is held, in Oriental countries, the state reception room in places, and in the houses of the richer citizens. Cushions on the floor or on benches are ranged round the room.
5. A cushioned seat, or a large, low sofa or couch; especially, one fixed to its place, and not movable.
6. A coffee and smoking saloon. [Colloq.]
DIVARICATE Di*var"i*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Divaricated; p. pr. & vb. n. Divaricating.] Etym: [L. divaricatus, p. p. of divaricare to stretch apart; di- = dis- + varicare to straddle, fr. varicus straddling, fr. varus stretched outwards.]
1. To part into two branches; to become bifid; to fork.
2. To diverge; to be divaricate. Woodward.
DIVARICATEDi*var"i*cate, v. t.
Defn: To divide into two branches; to cause to branch apart.
DIVARICATEDi*var"i*cate, a. Etym: [L. divaricatus, p. p.]
1. Diverging; spreading asunder; widely diverging.
2. (Biol.)
Defn: Forking and diverging; widely diverging; as the branches of a tree, or as lines of sculpture, or color markings on animals, etc.
DIVARICATELYDi*var"i*cate*ly, adv.
Defn: With divarication.
DIVARICATIONDi*var`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. divarication.]
1. A separation into two parts or branches; a forking; a divergence.
2. An ambiguity of meaning; a disagreement of difference in opinion. Sir T. Browne.
3. (Biol.)
Defn: A divergence of lines of color sculpture, or of fibers at different angles.
DIVARICATORDi*var`i*ca"tor, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of the muscles which open the shell of brachiopods; a cardinal muscle. See Illust. of Brachiopoda.
DIVASTDi*vast", a.
Defn: Devastated; laid waste. [Obs.]
DIVE Dive, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dived, colloq. Dove (, a relic of the AS. strong forms deáf, dofen; p. pr. & vb. n. Diving.] Etym: [OE. diven, duven, AS. d to sink, v. t., fr. d, v. i.; akin to Icel. d, G. taufen, E. dip, deep, and perh. to dove, n. Cf. Dip.]
1. To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body under, or deeply into, water or other fluid. It is not that pearls fetch a high price because men have dived for them. Whately.
Note: The colloquial form dove is common in the United States as animperfect tense form.All [the walruses] dove down with a tremendous splash. Dr. Hayes.When closely pressed it [the loon] dove . . . and left the young birdsitting in the water. J. Burroughs.
2. Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore. South.
DIVEDive, v. t.
1. To plunge (a person or thing) into water; to dip; to duck. [Obs.] Hooker.
2. To explore by diving; to plunge into. [R.] The Curtii bravely dived the gulf of fame. Denham. He dives the hollow, climbs the steeps. Emerson.
DIVEDive, n.
1. A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives, literally or figuratively.
2. A place of low resort. [Slang] The music halls and dives in the lower part of the city. J. Hawthorne.
DIVEDAPPERDive"dap`per, n. Etym: [See Dive, Didapper.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A water fowl; the didapper. See Dabchick.
DIVELDi*vel", v. t. Etym: [L. divellere; dit- = dis- + vellere to pluck.]
Defn: To rend apart. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DIVELLENTDi*vel"lent, a. Etym: [L. divellens, p. pr.]
Defn: Drawing asunder. [R.]
DIVELLICATE Di*vel"li*cate, v. t. Etym: [L. di- = vellicatus, p. p. of vellicare to pluck, fr. vellere to pull.]
Defn: To pull in pieces. [Obs. or R.]
DIVERDiv"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, dives. Divers and fishers for pearls. Woodward.
2. Fig.: One who goes deeply into a subject, study, or business. "A diver into causes." Sir H. Wotton.
3. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Any bird of certain genera, as Urinator (formerly Colymbus), or the allied genus Colymbus, or Podiceps, remarkable for their agility in diving.
Note: The northern diver (Urinator imber) is the loon; the black diver or velvet scoter (Oidemia fusca) is a sea duck. See Loon, and Scoter.
DIVERB Di"verb, n. Etym: [L. diverbium the colloquial part of a comedy, dialogue; di- = dis- + verbum word.]
Defn: A saying in which two members of the sentence are contrasted;an antithetical proverb. [Obs.]Italy, a paradise for horses, a hell for women, as the diverb goes.Burton.
DIVERBERATE Di*ver"ber*ate, v. t. Etym: [L. diverberatus, p. p. of diverberare to strike asunder; di- = dis- + verberare. See Verberate.]
Defn: To strike or sound through. [R.] Davies (Holy Roode).
DIVERBERATIONDi*ver`ber*a"tion, n.
Defn: A sounding through.
DIVERGEDi*verge", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Diverged; p. pr. & vb. n. Diverging.]Etym: [L. di- = dis- + vergere to bend, incline. See Verge.]
1. To extend from a common point in different directions; to tend from one point and recede from each other; to tend to spread apart; to turn aside or deviate (as from a given direction); — opposed to converge; as, rays of light diverge as they proceed from the sun.
2. To differ from a typical form; to vary from a normal condition; to dissent from a creed or position generally held or taken.
DIVERGEMENTDi*verge"ment, n.
Defn: Divergence.
DIVERGENCE; DIVERGENCYDi*ver"gence, Di*ver"gen*cy, n. Etym: [Cf. F. divergence.]
1. A receding from each other in moving from a common center; the state of being divergent; as, an angle is made by the divergence of straight lines. Rays come to the eye in a state of divergency.
2. Disagreement; difference. Related with some divergence by other writers. Sir G. C. Lewis.
DIVERGENTDi*ver"gent, a. Etym: [Cf. F. divergent. See Diverge.]
1. Receding farther and farther from each other, as lines radiating from one point; deviating gradually from a given direction; — opposed to convergent.
2. (Optics)
Defn: Causing divergence of rays; as, a divergent lens.
3. Fig.: Disagreeing from something given; differing; as, a divergent statement. Divergent series. (Math.) See Diverging series, under Diverging.
DIVERGINGDi*ver"ging, a.
Defn: Tending in different directions from a common center; spreading apart; divergent. Diverging series (Math.), a series whose terms are larger as the series is extended; a series the sum of whose terms does not approach a finite limit when the series is extended indefinitely; — opposed to a converging series.
DIVERGINGLYDi*ver"ging*ly, adv.
Defn: In a diverging manner.
DIVERSDi"vers, a. Etym: [F. divers, L. diversus turned in differentdirections, different, p. p. of divertere. See Divert, and cf.Diverse.]
1. Different in kind or species; diverse. [Obs.] Every sect of them hath a divers posture. Bacon. Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers seeds. Deut. xxii. 9.
2. Several; sundry; various; more than one, but not a great number; as, divers philosophers. Also used substantively or pronominally. Divers of Antonio's creditors. Shak.
Note: Divers is now limited to the plural; as, divers ways (not divers way). Besides plurality it ordinarily implies variety of kind.
DIVERSEDi"verse, a. Etym: [The same word as divers. See Divers.]
1. Different; unlike; dissimilar; distinct; separate.The word . . . is used in a sense very diverse from its originalimport. J. Edwards.Our roads are diverse: farewell, love! said she. R. Browning.
2. Capable of various forms; multiform. Eloquence is a great and diverse thing. B. Jonson.