Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
De-miss'ive or De-miss', a. p. 352Humble. [Obs.]De-miss'ly, adv. p. 352In a humble manner. [Obs.]Dēm'i-sūit, n. p. 352A half suit, as of armor.De-mit', v. i. p. 352To let fall; to depress; hence, to lay down formally, as an office. They [peacocks] demit and let fall the same [i. e., their train]. Bacon. 2. To yield or submit; as, to demit one's self to humble…Dĕm′i-tĭnt′, n. p. 352(Paint.) A gradation of color between positive light and positive shade;—called also half-tint. Elmes.Dēm'i-tōne', n. p. 352(Mus.) An interval of half a tone; a semitone. [Rare.]Dēm'i-ŭrge, n. p. 352(Gr. Antiq.) The highest magistrate in several Grecian cities. 2. God as the creator and former of the world. 3. The creator of the world and of man from matter;—so called by the Gnostics, and…Dēm'i-ür'gie, a. p. 352Pertaining to a demiurge; formative; molding; creative. Far beyond all other political powers of Christianity is the demiurgic power of this religion over the kingdoms of human opinion. De Quincey.Dēm'i-vīll, n. p. 352(Law.) A half vill, consisting of five freemen or frankpledges. Blackstone.Dēm'i-vōlt, n. p. 352(Man.) One of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he raises his fore-legs in a particular manner.Dēm'i-wolf, n. p. 352Half a wolf; a mongrel dog, between a dog and a wolf. Shak.De-mōc'ra-cy, n. p. 352Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is in the hands of the people, and directly exercised by them; hence, more usually, a form of government in which the power…Dēm'o-crat, n. p. 352One who is an adherent or promoter of democracy, or government by the people. 2. A member of the democratic party. [U. S.]Dēm'o-crāt'ic, a. p. 352[Gr. δημοκρατικός, Fr. démo-Dēm'o-crāt'ie-al p. 352Appertaining to democracy, or favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of popular government. The Democratic party, name of one of the political parties in the United States.Dēm'o-crāt'ĭc-al, n. p. 352A democrat. [Obs.] Hobbes.Dēm'o-crāt'īe-al-ly, adv. p. 352In a democratical manner. Sidney.De-mōc'ra-tĭsm, n. p. 352The principles or spirit of democracy. [Rare.]De-mōc'ra-tīst, n. p. 352A democrat. [Rare.] Burke.De-mōc'ra-tīze, v. t. p. 352To render democratic. [Rare.]De-mōc'ra-ty, n. p. 352Democracy. [Obs.] Milton.Dē'mo-gôr'gon, n. p. 352A mysterious divinity among the ancients, regarded as an object of terror.Dem-oi-selle', n. p. 352A young lady; a lady's maid. 2. (Ornith.) The Numidian crane, Anthropoides virgo;—so called on account of the grace and symmetry of its form.De-mōl'ish, v. t. p. 352To throw or pull down; to raze; to destroy the fabric of; to pull to pieces; to ruin; as, to demolish an edifice, a wall, or fortification. “Their demolished works to pieces rent.” Dryden. Syn.—To…De-mŏl'ish-er, n. p. 353One who demolishes, or pulls or throws down; one who destroys or lays waste; as, a demolisher of towns.De-mō'li'sh-ment, n. p. 353Ruin; overthrow; demolition. [Obs.] Beaumont.Dēm’o-li'tion, n. p. 353The act of overthrowing, pulling down, or destroying a pile or structure; ruin; destruction; as, the demolition of a house, or of military works.Dē'mon, n. p. 353(Gr. Antiq.) A spirit, or immaterial being, holding a middle place between men and the deities of the pagans; — hence, also, a departed soul. The demon kind is of an intermediate nature between the…Dē'mon-ess, n. p. 353A female demon.De-mōn'e-ti-zā'tion, n. p. 353The act of demonetizing, or condition as demonetized.De-mōn'e-tīze, v. t. p. 353To deprive of value, or to withdraw from use, as currency. They [gold mohurs] have been completely demonetized by the [East India] Company. R. Cobden.De-mō'ni-ac or Dē'mo-ni'a-cal, a. p. 353Pertaining to, or resembling, demons or evil spirits; horrid. “Thy demoniac holds.” Milton. “Sarcastic, demoniacal laughter.” Thackeray. 2. Influenced by demons; produced by demons or evil spirits.…De-mō'ni-ae, n. p. 353A human being possessed by a demon or evil spirit; one whose faculties are overpowered, restrained, or disturbed in their regular operation by an evil spirit. The demoniac in the gospel was sometimes…Dēm'o-nī'ae-al-ly, adv. p. 353In a demoniacal manner.Dē'mo-ni'a-çism, n. p. 353The state of being demoniac, or the practice of demoniacs.De-mō'ni-an, a. p. 353Having the nature of a demon. “Demonian spirits.” Milton.De-mō'ni-an-ism, n. p. 353The state of being possessed by a demon.Dē'mon-īsm, n. p. 353The belief in demons or false gods. The established theology of the heathen world . . . rested upon the basis of demonism. Farmer.Dē'mon-ist, n. p. 353A believer in, or worshiper of, demons; one who believes in demons.Dē'mon-īze, v. t. p. 353To convert into a demon; to infuse the principles or fury of a demon into. 2. To control or possess by a demon.Dē'mon-oc'ra-cy, n. p. 353The power or government of demons. [Obs. and rare.] Bailey.Dē'mon-ŏl'a-try, n. p. 353The worship of demons or of evil spirits. Cudworth.Dē'mon-o-lōg'ic, a. p. 353Dē'mon-o-lōg'ic-al, a. p. 353Pertaining to demonology.Dē'mon-ŏl'o-gĭst, n. p. 353One who writes on demonology.Dē'mon-ōl'o-gy, n. p. 353A systematic discourse on demons; a treatise on evil spirits and their agency. W. Scott.De-mōn'o-mīst, n. p. 353One in subjection to a demon, or to evil spirits. [Obs.] Herbert.De-mŏn'o-my, n. p. 353The dominion of demons or evil spirits. [Obs.] Herbert.Dē'mon-ry, n. p. 353Demoniacal influence.Dē'mon-ship, n. p. 353The state of a demon. Mede.De-mōn'stra-bil'i-ty, n. p. 353Quality of being demonstrable; demonstrableness.De-mōn'stra-ble, a. p. 353Capable of being demonstrated; easily found out or made evident; admitting of decisive proof. The articles of our belief are as demonstrable as geometry. Glanville.De-mŏn'stra-ble-ness, n. p. 353The quality of being demonstrable; demonstrability.De-mōn'stra-bly, adv. p. 353In a manner to demonstrate.De-môn'strance, n. p. 353Demonstration. [Obs.] “Demonstrances of how many calamities obstinacy is the cause.” Holland.Dēm'on-strāte or De-mōn'strāte, v. t. p. 353To point out; to indicate; to make evident; to exhibit. 2. To show or make evident by reasoning; to prove by deduction; to establish so as to exclude possibility of doubt or denial. To demonstrate…Dĕm'on-strā'tion, n. p. 353The act of demonstrating, showing, or making clear; an exhibition; indication; revelation; proof; evidence; especially, proof beyond the possibility of doubt; the proof itself thus presented. Those…De-mŏn'stra-tĭve, a. p. 353Having the nature of demonstration; tending to demonstrate; making evident; exhibiting clearly. “An argument necessary and demonstrative.” Hooker. “Demonstrative figures.” Dryden. 2. Expressing, or…De-mŏn'stra-tĭve-ly, adv. p. 353In a manner fitted to demonstrate; certainly; clearly; openly.De-mōn'stra-tive-ness, n. p. 353Quality of being demonstrative.