DIDUCTION, d[=i]-duk'shun, _n._ separation by withdrawing one part from the other.
DIDUNCULUS, di-dung'k[=u]-lus, _n._ a remarkable genus of pigeons--the tooth-billed pigeon of Samoa.
DIDYMIUM, d[=i]-dim'i-um, _n._ a supposed element discovered in 1841, so named from being, as it were, _twin_ brother of lanthamum.
DIDYMOUS, did'i-mus, _adj._ twin.
DIDYNAMIA, did-i-n[=a]'mi-a, _n._ a class of plants in the Linnaean system having in the flower four stamens in pairs of unequal length.--_adjs._ DIDYN[=A]'MIAN, DIDYN'AMOUS. [Gr. _di-_, double, _dynamis_, strength.]
DIE, d[=i], _v.i._ to lose life: to perish: to wither: to languish: to become insensible:--_pr.p._ dy'ing; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ died (d[=i]d).--_adj._ DIE'-AWAY', languishing.--DIE AWAY, to disappear by degrees, become gradually inaudible; DIE GAME, to keep up one's spirit to the last; DIE HARD, to struggle hard against death, to be long in dying; DIE OFF, to die quickly or in large numbers; DIE OUT, to become extinct, to disappear. [From a Scand. root seen in Ice. _deyja_, Dan. _d[o]e_, Scot.
_dee_; akin to Mid. High Ger. _touwen_, whence Ger. _tod_, _todt_. The A.S.
word is _steorfan_, whence our _starve_.]
DIE, d[=i], _n._ a small cube used in gaming by being thrown from a box: any small cubical body: hazard:--_pl._ DICE (d[=i]s).--_n._ DICE'-BOX.--_adj._ DICED, ornamented with square or diamond-shaped figures.--_ns._ DICE'-PLAY; DICE'-PLAY'ER, D[=I]'CER; D[=I]'CING-HOUSE.--THE DIE IS CAST, the question is decided. [O. Fr. _det_, pl. _dez_ (Prov. _dat_, It. _dado_), from Low L. _dadus_--L. _d[=a]tus_, given or cast (_talus_, a piece of bone used in play, being understood).
Doublets, _dado_, _date_.]
DIE, d[=i], _n._ a stamp for impressing coin, &c.: the cubical part of a pedestal:--_pl._ DIES (d[=i]z).--_ns._ DIE'-SINK'ER; DIE'-SINK'ING, the engraving of dies; DIE'-STOCK, a contrivance for holding the dies used in screw-cutting; DIE'-WORK, ornamentation of a metal surface by impressions with a die. [See above.]
DIEB, d[=e]b, _n._ a jackal of northern Africa.
DIEGESIS, d[=i]-e-j[=e]'sis, _n._ (_rhet._) in an oration, the narration of the facts. [Gr.]
DIELECTRIC, d[=i]-e-lek'trik, _adj._ non-conducting: transmitting electric effects without conducting.--_n._ a substance through which electric force acts. [Gr. _dia_, through, and _electric_.]
DIELYTRA, d[=i]-el'i-tra, _n._ an erroneous name for _dicentra_.
DIESIS, d[=i]'e-sis, _n._ (_mus._) the difference in tone between a major and a minor semitone: (_print._) the double dagger (++).
DIES IRae, d[=i]'[=e]z [=i]'r[=e], _n._ the name given (from the opening words) to a famous hymn on the last judgment (_c._ 1250 A.D.). [L., 'day of wrath.']
DIES NON, d[=i]'[=e]z non, a day on which law courts may not be held. [From L. _dies non juridicus_, same as _dies nefastus_, an unlawful day.]
DIET, d[=i]'et, _n._ mode of living, with especial reference to food: food prescribed by a physician: allowance of provisions.--_v.t._ to furnish with food.--_v.i._ to eat: to take food according to rule.--_n._ DIET[=A]'RIAN, one who observes prescribed rules for diet.--_adj._ D[=I]'ETARY, pertaining to diet or the rules of diet.--_n._ course of diet: allowance of food, esp.
in large institutions.--_ns._ D[=I]'ET-DRINK, medicated liquor; D[=I]'ETER (_Shak._), one who diets or prepares food by rule.--_adjs._ DIETET'IC, -AL, pertaining to diet.--_adv._ DIETET'ICALLY.--_ns._ DIETET'ICS, rules for regulating diet; DIETET'IST, one who lays stress on diet; D[=I]'ETIST, an authority on diet. [Fr. _diete_--Low L. _diaeta_--Gr. _diaita_, mode of living, diet.]
DIET, d[=i]'et, _n._ an assembly of princes and delegates, the chief national council in several countries in Europe: (_Scots law_) the proceedings under a criminal libel: a clerical or ecclesiastical function in Scotland, a _diet of worship_.--_n._ D[=I]'ETINE, a minor or local diet.--DESERT THE DIET, to abandon criminal proceedings under a particular libel--in Scotch usage. [O. Fr. _diete_--Low L. _diaeta_--Gr. _diaita_; or acc. to Littre, from L. _dies_, a (set) day, with which usage cf. Ger.
_tag_, a day, _reichstag_.]
DIFFARREATION, di-far-[=e]-[=a]'shun, _n._ the parting of a cake of spelt--a ceremony at a Roman divorce. [L.]
DIFFER, dif'[.e]r, _v.i._ to be unlike, distinct, or various (used by itself, or followed by _with_, _from_, _to_): to disagree (with _from_, _with_): to fall out, dispute (_with_):--_pr.p._ diff'ering; _pa.p._ diff'ered.--_ns._ DIFF'ERENCE, DIFF'ERENCY (_Shak._), dissimilarity: the quality distinguishing one thing from another: a contention or quarrel: the point in dispute: the excess of one quantity or number over another: (_her._) the modification of an achievement of arms to indicate the wearer's relation to the head of the house, as by marks of cadency.--_v.t._ to make a difference between things.--_adj._ DIFF'ERENT, distinct: separate: unlike: not the same (with _from_, not _to_).--_n._ DIFFEREN'TIA (_logic_), the characteristic quality or attribute of a species.--_adj._ DIFFEREN'TIAL, creating a difference: special: (_math._) pertaining to a quantity or difference infinitely small (see CALCULUS).--_adv._ DIFFEREN'TIALLY.--_v.t._ DIFFEREN'TI[=A]TE, to make different: to create a difference between: to classify as different.--_v.i._ to become different by specialisation: (_math._) to obtain the differential or differential coefficient of.--_n._ DIFFERENTI[=A]'TION, the act of distinguishing or describing a thing by giving its differentia: exact definition: a change by which organs or structures become specialised or modified: (_math._) the act or process of differentiating.--_adv._ DIFF'ERENTLY.--DIFFERENTIAL GEAR, gear for communicating differential motion; DIFFERENTIAL MOTION, an apparatus by which the difference of two velocities is communicated, as in the DIFFERENTIAL SCREW, a combination of male and female screws; DIFFERENTIAL THERMOMETER, a thermometer for marking minute differences of temperature. [L. _differre_--_dif_ (= _dis_), apart, _ferre_, to bear.]
DIFFICULT, dif'i-kult, _adj._ not easy: hard to be done: requiring labour and pains: hard to please: not easily persuaded.--_adv._ DIFF'ICULTLY.--_n._ DIFF'ICULTY, laboriousness: obstacle: objection: that which cannot be easily understood or believed: embarrassment of affairs: a quarrel. [The adj. was formed from _difficulty_, in place of the old form _difficile_. Fr. _difficulte_--L. _difficultas_ = _difficilitas_--_difficilis_--_dif_ (= _dis_), neg., and _facilis_, easy.]
DIFFIDENT, dif'i-dent, _adj._ wanting faith in: distrustful of one's self: modest: bashful.--_n._ DIFF'IDENCE, want of confidence: want of self-reliance: modesty: bashfulness.--_adv._ DIFF'IDENTLY. [L., pr.p. of _diffid[)e]re_, to distrust--_dif_ (= _dis_), neg., _f[=i]d[)e]re_, to trust--_f[)i]des_, faith.]
DIFFLUENT, dif'loo-ent, _adj._ tending to flow away readily.
DIFFORM, dif'orm, _adj._ not uniform, irregular in form.--_n._ DIFFOR'MITY.
DIFFRACT, dif-frakt', _v.t._ to break or separate into parts, as rays of light.--_n._ DIFFRAC'TION, a name for certain phenomena connected with light passing through a narrow opening or by the edge of an opaque body: the spreading of the rays, with interference phenomena, coloured and other.--_adj._ DIFFRAC'TIVE.--_n._ DIFFRANGIBIL'ITY.--_adj._ DIFFRAN'GIBLE.
[L. _diffring[)e]re_, _diffractum_--_dis_, asunder, _frang[)e]re_, to break.]
DIFFUSE, dif-[=u]z', _v.t._ to pour out all round: to send out in all directions: to scatter: to circulate: to publish.--_v.i._ to spread, as a liquid does.--_pa.p._ and _adj._ DIFFUSED', spread widely: loose.--_adv._ DIFFUS'EDLY.--_ns._ DIFFUS'EDNESS; DIFFUS'ER; DIFFUSIBIL'ITY.--_adj._ DIFFUS'IBLE, that may be diffused.--_ns._ DIFF[=U]'SION, a spreading or scattering abroad: extension: distribution: in the case of gases or liquids in contact, mixture through each other; DIFF[=U]'SION-TUBE, an instrument for determining the rate of diffusion for different gases.--_adj._ DIFFUS'IVE, extending: spreading widely.--_adv._ DIFFUS'IVELY.--_n._ DIFFUS'IVENESS. [L. _diffund[)e]re_, _diff[=u]sum_--_dif_ (= _dis_), asunder, _fund[)e]re_, to pour out.]
DIFFUSE, dif-[=u]s', _adj._ diffused: widely spread: wordy: not concise.--_adv._ DIFFUSE'LY.--_n._ DIFFUSE'NESS.
DIG, dig, _v.t._ to excavate: to turn up the earth: to cultivate with a spade: to poke or thrust, as one's elbow into another's side, or spurs into a horse.--_v.i._ to till the ground; to occupy one's self in digging; (_U.S. slang_) to study hard:--_pr.p._ dig'ging; _pa.t._ and _pa.p._ dug, (_B._) digged.--_n._ a thrust, a poke: (_U.S. slang_) a hard student.--_adj._ DIG'GABLE, that may be dug.--_n._ DIG'GER, a person or animal that digs: a machine for digging, as a _steam-digger_.--_n.pl._ DIG'GINGS, places where mining is carried on, esp. for gold: (_slang_, orig. American) lodgings, rooms.--DIG IN, to cover over by digging: to work hard; DIG OUT (_U.S. slang_), to decamp.--DIGGER INDIANS, degraded Indian tribes of California and Nevada, who live by digging roots. [Prob. O. Fr.
_diguer_, to dig; of Teut. origin.]
DIGAMMA, d[=i]-gam'ma, _n._ an obsolete letter of the Greek alphabet, having the force of our W. [So called from its form ([Digamma]), like one capital [Gamma] (gamma) placed over another.]
DIGAMY, dig'a-mi, _n._ a second marriage.--_n._ DIG'AMIST.--_adj._ DIG'AMOUS (_bot._), androgynous. [Gr. _dis_, twice, and _gamos_, marriage.]
DIGASTRIC, d[=i]-gas'trik, _adj._ double-bellied, or fleshy at each end, as is one of the muscles of the lower jaw. [Gr. _di-_, double, _gast[=e]r_, the belly.]
DIGENESIS, d[=i]-jen'e-sis, _n._ reproduction by two methods, a sexual followed by an assexual.--_adj._ DIGENET'IC.
DIGEST, di-jest', _v.t._ to dissolve food in the stomach: to soften by heat and moisture: to distribute and arrange: to prepare or classify in the mind: to think over.--_v.i._ to be dissolved in the stomach: to be softened by heat and moisture.--_adv._ DIGEST'EDLY.--_n._ DIGEST'ER, one who digests: a close vessel in which by heat and pressure strong extracts are made from animal and vegetable substances.--_n._ DIGESTIBIL'ITY.--_adj._ DIGEST'IBLE, that may be digested.--_n._ DIGES'TION, the dissolving of the food in the stomach: orderly arrangement: exposing to slow heat, &c.--_adj._ DIGEST'IVE, pertaining to digestion: promoting digestion.--_adv._ DIGEST'IVELY. [L. _diger[)e]re_, _digestum_, to carry asunder or dissolve--_di_ (= _dis_), asunder, and _ger[)e]re_, to bear.]
DIGEST, d[=i]'jest, _n._ a body of laws collected and arranged, esp. the Justinian code of civil laws. [L. _digesta_, neut. pl. of _digestus_, pa.p.
of _diger[)e]re_, to carry apart, to arrange.]
DIGHT, d[=i]t, _adj._ disposed, adorned.--_adv._ finely.--Also DIGHT'LY.
[A.S. _dihtan_, to arrange, prescribe, from L. _dict[=a]re_, to dictate, whence Ger. _dichten_, to write poetry, and the Scotch verb _dight_, to dress, used of stones, flour, &c.]
DIGIT, dij'it, _n._ a finger's breadth or inch: from the habit of counting on the fingers, any one of the nine numbers: the twelfth part of the diameter of the sun or moon.--_adj._ DIG'ITAL, pertaining to the fingers.--_n._ finger: a key of a piano, &c.--_ns._ DIGIT[=A]'LIA, DIG'ITALINE, DIG'ITALIN, the active principles of digitalis; DIGIT[=A]'LIS, a genus of plants, including the foxglove; DIGIT[=A]'RIA, a genus of grasses with digitate spikes.--_adjs._ DIGITATE, -D, consisting of several finger-like sections.--_adv._ DIG'ITATELY.--_n._ DIGIT[=A]'TION, finger-like arrangement: a finger-like process.--_adj._ DIGIT'IFORM, formed like fingers; DIG'ITIGRADE, walking on the toes.--_n._ an animal that walks on its toes, as the lion--opp. to _Plantigrade_.--_ns._ DIG'ITIGRADISM; DIGIT[=O]'RIUM, a small portable instrument used for making the fingers flexible for piano-playing. [L. _digitus_, a finger or toe, akin to Gr.
_daktylos_.]
DIGLYPH, d[=i]'glif, _n._ (_archit._) an ornament consisting of a double groove.
DIGNIFY, dig'ni-f[=i], _v.t._ to invest with honour: to exalt:--_pr.p._ dig'nifying; _pa.p._ dig'nified.--_n._ DIGNIFIC[=A]'TION.--_adj._ DIG'NIFIED, marked with dignity: exalted: noble: grave. [Low L.
_dignific[=a]re_--_dignus_, worthy, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
DIGNITY, dig'ni-ti, _n._ the state of being dignified: elevation of mind or character: grandeur of mien: elevation in rank, place, &c.: degree of excellence: preferment: high office: a dignitary.--_n._ DIG'NITARY, one in a dignified position or rank, esp. in the church. [Fr. _dignite_--L.
_dignitas_--_dignus_, worthy.]
DIGRAPH, d[=i]'graf, _n._ two letters expressing but one sound, as _ph_ in _digraph_. [Gr. _di-_, twice, _graph[=e]_, a mark, a character--_graphein_, to write.]
DIGRESS, di-gres', _v.i._ to step aside or go from the main subject: to introduce irrelevant matter.--_n._ DIGRES'SION, a going from the main point: a part of a discourse not upon the main subject.--_adjs._ DIGRES'SIONAL, DIGRESS'IVE, of the nature of a digression: departing from the main subject.--_adv._ DIGRESS'IVELY. [L. _digredi_, _digressus_--_di_, aside, _gradi_, to step. See GRADE.]
DIGYNIA, d[=i]-jin'i-a, _n._ an order of plants having in the flower two styles or a deeply cleft style.--_adjs._ DIGYN'IAN, DIG'YNOUS. [Gr. _dis_, twice, and _gyn[=e]_, a woman.]
DIHEDRAL, d[=i]-h[=e]'dral, _adj._ having two sides, or two plane faces--also DI[=E]'DRAL.--_n._ DIH[=E]'DRON. [Gr. _di-_, two, _hedra_, a seat.]
DIHEXAGONAL, d[=i]-heks-ag'[=o]-nal, _adj._ twelve-sided.
DIHEXAHEDRAL, d[=i]-heks-a-h[=e]'dral, _adj._ pertaining to a six-sided prism having three planes on the extremities.--_n._ DIHEXAH[=E]'DRON.