DAVY JONES, d[=a]'vi j[=o]nz, _n._ a sailor's familiar name for the (malignant) spirit of the sea, the devil; hence DAVY JONES'S LOCKER, of the sea, as the grave of men drowned at sea. [Said by some to be a compound of _Duffy_, a West Indian spirit name, and _Jonah_.]
DAW, daw, _v.i._ an old English form of _dawn_.
DAW, daw, _n._ a bird of the crow kind: a jackdaw.--_adj._ DAW'ISH. [From its cry.]
DAWDLE, daw'dl, _v.i._ to waste time by trifling: to act or move slowly.--_n._ DAW'DLER. [Allied to _dandle_ and _dandy_.]
DAWK. See DAK.
DAWN, dawn, _v.i._ to become day: to begin to grow light: to begin to appear.--_n._ daybreak: beginning.--Also DAWN'ING. [A.S. _dagian_, to dawn, _daeg_, day.]
DAWNERING = dandering. [See DANDER (1).]
DAWTIE, daw'ti, _n._ (_Scot._) a darling: a beloved child--also DAUT'IE.--_v.t._ DAUT, to fondle.
DAY, d[=a], _n._ the time of light, from sunrise to sunset: the time from morning till night: twenty-four hours, the time the earth takes to make a revolution on her axis--this being the _solar_ or _natural_ day as distinguished from the _sidereal_ day, between two transits of the same star: a man's period of existence or influence: a time or period.--_ns._ DAY'-BED (_Shak._), a couch or sofa; DAY'-BLIND'NESS, a defect of vision, in which objects are best seen by a dim light; DAY'-BOOK, a book in which merchants, &c., enter the transactions of every day; DAY'BREAK; DAY'-COAL, the upper stratum of coal; DAY'-DREAM, a dreaming or musing while awake; DAY'-FLY, a fly which lives in its perfect form only for a day, one of the ephemera; DAY'-L[=A]'BOUR; DAY'-L[=A]'BOURER; DAY'LIGHT; DAY'-LIL'Y, a flower whose blossoms last only for a day, the hemerocallis.--_adj._ DAY'LONG, during the whole day.--_ns._ DAY'-PEEP (_Milt._), the dawn; DAY'-SCHOL'AR, a boy who attends a boarding-school during the school-hours, but boards at home; DAY'-SCHOOL, a school held during the day, as opposed both to a night-school and to a boarding-school; DAY'-SIGHT = night-blindness; DAYS'MAN, one who appoints a day to hear a cause: an umpire; DAY'SPRING, dawn; DAY'STAR, the morning star; DAY'TIME.--_adj._ DAY'-WEA'RIED (_Shak._), wearied with the work of the day.--_n._ DAY'-WORK.--DAY BY DAY, daily; DAY OF DOOM, the judgment day; DAYS OF GRACE, three days allowed for payment of bills, &c., beyond the day named.--NAME THE DAY, to fix the day of marriage.--ONE OF THESE DAYS, an indefinite reference to the near future.--THE DAY, the time spoken of: (_Scot._) to-day; THE OTHER DAY, not long ago; THE TIME OF DAY, a greeting, as, 'to give a person the time of day,' to greet him. [A.S. _daeg_; Ger.
_tag_; not conn. with L. _dies_.]
DAYAK. See DYAK.
DAY-WOMAN, d[=a]'-woom'an, _n._ (_Shak._) a dairymaid.
DAZE, d[=a]z, _v.t._ to stun, to stupefy. [Ice. _dasa_, to be breathless; cf. A.S. _dwaes_, foolish.]
DAZZLE, daz'l, _v.t._ to daze or overpower with any strong light: to confound by brilliancy, beauty, or cleverness.--_ns._ DAZZ'LEMENT, the act of dazzling: that which dazzles; DAZZ'LER; DAZZ'LING.--_adv._ DAZZ'LINGLY.
[Freq. of _daze_.]
DEACON, d[=e]'kn, _n._ in Episcopal churches, a member of the order of clergy under priests: in some Presbyterian churches, an officer, distinct from the elders, who attends to the secular affairs of the church: in Congregational and some other churches, an officer who advises the pastor, distributes the elements at the Communion, and dispenses charity: in Scotland, the master of an incorporated company:--_fem._ DEA'CONESS, a female servant of the Christian society in the time of the apostles: in a convent, a nun who has the care of the altar: one of an order of women in some Protestant churches who nurse the sick and tend the poor.--_ns._ DEA'CONHOOD, DEA'CONRY, DEA'CONSHIP. [L. _diaconus_--Gr. _diakonos_, a servant.]
[Illustration]
DEAD, ded, _adj._ without life: death-like: at rest, of a ball: cold and cheerless: without vegetation: utter: unerring.--_v.t._ to deaden, dull.--_adv._ in a dead manner.--_n._ the time of greatest stillness, as 'the dead of night.'--_adjs._ DEAD'-ALIVE', DEAD'-AND-ALIVE', dull, uneventful; DEAD'-BEAT, quite overcome; DEAD'-BORN, still-born.--_n.pl._ DEAD'-CLOTHES, clothes in which to bury the dead.--_n._ DEAD'-COL'OURING, the first broad outlines of a picture.--_adjs._ DEAD'-DO'ING (_Spens._), putting to death, destructive; DEAD'-DRUNK, completely drunk.--_v.t._ DEAD'EN, to make dead: to deprive partly of vigour or sensation: to blunt: to lessen.--_ns._ DEAD'-EYE, (_naut._), a round, flattish wooden block with a rope or iron band passing round it, and pierced with three holes for a lanyard; DEAD'-FALL, a trap operated by a weight that, when its support is removed, falls upon and kills or holds an animal; DEAD'-FREIGHT, money paid for the empty space in a ship by a person who engages to freight her, but fails to make out a full cargo; DEAD'-HEAD (_U.S._), one who is allowed, without payment, to ride in a public carriage, sit in a theatre, or hold a privilege having a money value; DEAD'-HEAT, a heat or race in which no one gains the advantage; DEAD'-HOUSE, the house or room where (in hospitals, police-offices, &c.) dead bodies are kept till buried: a mortuary; DEAD'-LETT'ER, a letter undelivered and unclaimed at the post-office: a law or ordinance which has been made but never enforced; DEAD'-LEV'EL, a stretch of land without any rising ground: sameness; DEAD'-LIFT, a lift made without help, leverage, &c.; hence an effort under discouraging conditions.--_n.pl._ DEAD'-LIGHTS, storm-shutters for a cabin window.--_ns._ DEAD'LINESS; DEAD'-LOCK, the case when matters have become so complicated that all is at a complete standstill.--_adj._ DEAD'LY, causing death: fatal: implacable.--_adv._ in a manner resembling death.--_ns._ DEAD'LY-NIGHT'SHADE, the plant Belladonna (q.v.); DEAD'-MARCH, a piece of solemn music played at funeral processions, esp. of soldiers; DEAD'-MEAT, the flesh of animals ready for the market.--_n.pl._ DEAD'-MEN, empty bottles after a carouse.--_ns._ DEAD'NESS; DEAD'-NETT'LE, a genus of plants of the natural order _Labiatae_, so called because they resemble nettles but do not sting; DEAD'-PAY, continued pay dishonestly drawn for men actually dead; DEAD'-RECK'ONING, an estimation of a ship's place simply by the log-book; DEAD'-ROPE, a rope not running in any block; DEAD'-SET, a determined and prolonged attempt; DEAD'-SHOT, an unerring marksman.--_adj._ DEAD'-STROKE, without recoil.--_ns._ DEAD'-WALL, a wall unbroken by windows or other openings; DEAD'-WA'TER, the eddy water closing in behind a ship's stern as she sails; DEAD'-WEIGHT, a heavy or oppressive burden; DEAD'-WIND, a wind coming directly ahead or opposed to a ship's course; DEAD'-WOOD, pieces of timber laid on the upper side of the keel at either end, useless material; DEAD'-WORK, work, itself unprofitable, which is necessary as a preliminary, as the opening of a mine.--DEAD AS A DOOR-NAIL, absolutely dead; DEAD LANGUAGE, one no longer spoken; DEAD-MEN'S BELLS, the foxglove; DEAD-MEN'S FINGERS, a very common coelenterate belonging to the _Actinozoa_--also _Cow-paps_ and _Mermaid's glove_; DEAD-MEN'S SHOES, a situation formerly held by some one now dead; DEAD'S PART (_Scots law_), the part of a man's movable property which he may bequeath by will, and which is not due to wife and children.--BE DEAD SET AGAINST, to be utterly opposed to.--PUT THE DEAD WOOD ON (_U.S. slang_), to gain a great advantage over. [A.S. _dead_; Goth. _dauths_, Ger. _todt_, from root of _die_.]
DEAF, def, _adj._ dull of hearing: unable to hear at all: not willing to hear: inattentive.--_v.t._ DEAF'EN, to make deaf, partly or altogether: to stun: to render impervious to sound.--_n._ DEAF'ENING, stuffing put into floors, partition-walls, &c. to prevent sounds from passing through.--_adv._ DEAF'LY.--_ns._ DEAF'-MUTE, one who is both deaf and dumb; DEAF'NESS. [A.S. _deaf_; Dut. _doof_, Ger. _taub_.]
DEAL, d[=e]l, _n._ a portion; an indefinite quantity: a large quantity; the act of dividing cards: (_U.S._) a bargain: a fir or pine board: timber.--_v.t._ to divide, to distribute: to throw about: to deliver.--_v.i._ to transact business: to act: to distribute cards.--_pa.t._ and _pa.p._ dealt (delt).--_ns._ DEAL'ER, one who deals: a trader; DEAL'-FISH, a genus of ribbon-fishes; DEAL'ING, manner of acting towards others: intercourse of trade. [A.S. _d['ae]lan_--_d['ae]l_, a part; Ger. _theilen_--_theil_, a part or division. A doublet of _dole_. By some, however, _deal_, a plank, is taken as a doublet of _thill_, from A.S.
_thel_, a plank.]
DEAMBULATORY, d[=e]-am'b[=u]-la-to-ri, _n._ a passage or aisle round the choir and apse of a church. [L. _deambul[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to walk about.]
DEAN, d[=e]n, _n._ a small valley.--Also DENE. [A.S. _denu_, a valley. Cf.
DEN.]
DEAN, d[=e]n, _n._ a dignitary in cathedral and collegiate churches who presides over the other clergy: the president of faculty in a college; the chief chaplain of the Chapel Royal: the chief judge of the Court of Arches: the president of a trade-guild.--_ns._ DEAN'ERY, the office of a dean: a dean's house; DEAN'SHIP, the office or dignity of a dean.--DEAN OF ARCHES, dean of the Court of Arches (see ARCH); DEAN OF FACULTY, president of the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland: DEAN OF GUILD, a municipal functionary in Scotland, who has authority over building and altering of houses.--RURAL DEAN, one who, under the bishop, has the special care and inspection of the clergy in certain parishes. [O. Fr. _deien_ (Fr. _doyen_)--Low L.
_decanus_, a chief of ten--L. _decem_, ten.]
DEAR, d[=e]r, _adj._ high in price: costly: scarce: highly valued: beloved: (_Shak._), earnest, inmost.--_n._ one who is dear or beloved.--_adv._ at a high price.--_adj._ DEAR'-BOUGHT.--_n._ DEAR'LING (_Spens._), a darling.--_adj._ DEAR'-LOVED.--_adv._ DEAR'LY.--_ns._ DEAR'NESS; DEAR'Y, one who is dear. [A.S. _deore_, _dre_; cog. with Ger. _theuer_.]
DEAR, d[=e]r, _interj._ indicating surprise, pity, or other emotion, as in 'Oh dear!' 'Dear me!' 'Dear, dear!'--prob. elliptical in 'Dear help us!'
&c. [Sometimes doubtfully referred to _Dio mio_ (It. 'My God'), or to some compound of Fr. _Dieu_.]
DEARN, DEARNFUL, DERNLY. See DERN, &c.
DEARTH, d[.e]rth, _n._ dearness, high price: scarcity: want: famine; barrenness.--_adj._ DEARTH'FUL (_Scot._), expensive.
DEASIL, d[=e]'sh[=e]l, _n._ (_Scot._) motion according to the apparent course of the sun--opp. to _Withershins_.--Also DEA'SOIL, DEI'SHEAL, DEA'SIUL. [Gael.]
DEARTICULATE, d[=e]-ar-tik'[=u]-l[=a]t, _v.t._ to disjoint.
DEASPIRATE, d[=e]-as'pir-[=a]t, _v.t._ to remove the aspirate.
DEATH, deth, _n._ state of being dead: extinction or cessation of life: manner of dying: mortality: a deadly plague: cause of death: spiritual lifelessness: the killing of the animal in hunting.--_ns._ DEATH'-ADD'ER, a poisonous Australian snake; DEATH'-AG'ONY, the struggle often preceding death; DEATH'-BED, the bed on which one dies, the last illness; DEATH'-BELL, the passing bell; DEATH'-BLOW, a blow that causes death; DEATH'-DAMP, a cold, clammy sweat preceding death.--_n.pl._ DEATH'-D[=U]'TIES, duties paid to government on the inheritance of property, real or personal, after the death of the former owner.--_n._ DEATH'-FIRE, a kind of light supposed to presage death.--_adjs._ DEATH'FUL, DEATH'LY, deadly, destructive; DEATH'LESS, never dying: everlasting.--_n._ DEATH'LESSNESS.--_adj._ DEATH'-LIKE (_Shak._), like a dead person, deadly.--_n._ DEATH'LINESS.--_adj._ DEATH'-MARKED, marked for or by death, destined to die.--_n._ DEATH'-MASK, a plaster-cast taken from the face after death.--_adj._ DEATH'-PRAC'TISED (_Shak._), threatened with death by malicious arts.--_ns._ DEATH'-RATE, the proportion of deaths to the population; DEATH'-RATT'LE, a rattling in the throat which sometimes accompanies the last uneasy breathings of a dying person; DEATH'S'-DOOR, the point of death; DEATH'S'-HEAD, the skull of a human skeleton, or a figure of it; DEATH'S'-MAN (_Shak._), the public executioner; DEATH'-STROKE, a death-blow; DEATH'-THROE, the dying agony; DEATH'-T[=O]'KEN (_Shak._), a sign or token of impending death, a plague-spot; DEATH'-TRAP, an unsafe building, vessel, or place that shuts up its occupants to almost certain death; DEATH'-WARR'ANT, an order from the authorities for the execution of a criminal; DEATH'-WATCH, a watch by a dying person: a popular name for several insects which produce a ticking noise, specially audible in the stillness of a death-chamber; DEATH'-WOUND, a wound which caused death.--DEATH'S'-HEAD MOTH, a species of hawk-moth, having pale markings on the back of the thorax somewhat like a skull.--BE DEATH ON, to be fond of, to be good at; BE IN AT THE DEATH, in hunting, to be up on the animal before the dogs have killed it.--DO, or PUT, TO DEATH, to kill: to cause to be killed.--GATES, or JAWS, OF DEATH, death's door, the point of death.--TO DEATH, expressive of intensity, very much. [A.S.
_death_; Ger. _tod_. See DEAD and DIE.]
DEAVE, d[=e]v, _v.t._ (_Scot._) to render deaf. [See DEAF.]
DEAW, d[=u], _v.t._ (_Spens._) to bedew.
DEBACLE, de-bak'l, _n._ a breaking up of ice on a river: (_geol._) a sudden flood of water leaving its path strewed with debris. [Fr. _debacle_; _de_, and _bacler_, to bar--L. _baculus_, a stick.]
DEBAR, de-bar', _v.t._ to bar out from: to exclude: to hinder:--_pr.p._ debar'ring; _pa.p._ debarred'.--_n._ DEBAR'MENT. [L. _de_, from, and _bar_.]
DEBARK, de-bark', _v.t._ or _v.i._ to land from a ship or boat: to disembark.--_ns._ DEBARK[=A]'TION, DEBARC[=A]'TION. [Fr. _debarquer_--_des_ = L. _dis_, away, and _barque_, a ship.]
DEBARRASS, de-bar'as, _v.t._ to disembarrass, disentangle, free. [Fr.
_debarrasser_; _de_, and _barre_, a bar.]
DEBASE, de-b[=a]s', _v.t._ to lower: to make mean or of less value: to adulterate.--_adj._ DEBASED', degraded: (_her._) reversed.--_n._ DEBASE'MENT, degradation.--_adj._ DEBAS'ING, tending to lower or degrade.--_adv._ DEBAS'INGLY. [L. _de_, down, and _base_, low.]
DEBATE, de-b[=a]t', _n._ a contention in words or argument: (_obs._) strife.--_v.t._ to contend for in argument: (_arch._) to fight for.--_v.i._ to deliberate: to join in debate.--_adjs._ DEBAT'ABLE, liable to be disputed; DEBATE'FUL (_Spens._), quarrelsome.--_ns._ DEBATE'MENT (_Spens._, _Shak._), controversy; DEBAT'ER.--_adv._ DEBAT'INGLY.--DEBATABLE LAND, a tract of border land between Esk and Sark claimed both by England and Scotland. [O. Fr. _debatre_--L. _de_, and _batu[)e]re_, to beat.]
DEBAUCH, de-bawch', _v.t._ to lead away from duty or allegiance: to corrupt with lewdness: to pervert.--_v.i._ to indulge in revelry.--_n._ a fit of intemperance or debauchery.--_p.adj._ DEBAUCHED', corrupt: profligate.--_adv._ DEBAUCH'EDLY.--_ns._ DEBAUCH'EDNESS; DEB'AUCHEE, a libertine; DEBAUCH'ER; DEBAUCH'ERY, excessive intemperance: habitual lewdness; DEBAUCH'MENT. [O. Fr. _desbaucher_ (Fr. _debaucher_), to corrupt--_des_ = L. _dis_, and _baucher_, to hew--_bauche_ or _bauc_, a beam, a course of stones.]
DEBEL, de-bel', _v.t._ (_Milt._) to conquer in war. [Fr. _debeller_--L.
_debell[=a]re_--_de_, from, and _bell[=a]re_, to carry on war, from _bellum_, war.]
DEBENTURE, de-bent'[=u]r, _n._ a written acknowledgment of a debt: a deed of mortgage given by a railway or other company for borrowed money: a certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a repayment of the duty paid on their importation.--_p.adj._ DEBENT'URED, entitled to drawback or debenture, as goods. [L. _debentur_, there are due, 3d pers. pl. pass.
of _deb[=e]re_, to owe--the first word of the receipt.]
DEBILITATE, de-bil'i-t[=a]t, _v.t._ to make weak: to impair the strength of.--_adj._ DEB'ILE (_arch._), weak, feeble.--_ns._ DEBILIT[=A]'TION; DEBIL'ITY, weakness and languor: a weak action of the animal functions. [L.
_debilit[=a]re_, _[=a]tum_--_debilis_, weak--_de_, not, _habilis_, able.
See ABILITY.]
DEBIT, deb'it, _n._ a debt or something due: an entry on the debtor side of an account.--_v.t._ to charge with debt: to enter on the debtor side of an account.--_n._ DEB'ITOR (_Shak._), a debtor. [L. _debitum_, what is due, from _deb[=e]re_, to owe.]
DEBITUMINISE, d[=e]-bi-t[=u]'mi-n[=i]z, _v.t._ to deprive of bitumen.
DeBLAI, d[=a]-bl[=a]', _n._ the earth excavated from a ditch to form a parapet. [Fr.]