Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.Dĕm'on-strā'tor, n. p. 353One who demonstrates; one who proves any thing with certainty, or with indubitable evidence. 2. (Anat.) One who exhibits the parts when dissected.De-mŏn'stra-to-ry, a. p. 353Tending to demonstrate; having a tendency to prove beyond a possibility of doubt; demonstrative. Johnson.De-mōr'age, n. p. 353Demurrage. [Obs.] Pepys, 1663.De-mŏr'al-i-zā'tion, n. p. 353The act of subverting or corrupting morals; destruction of moral principles; especially, the act of corrupting discipline, courage, &c.; as, the demoralization of an army or navy.De-mŏr'al-īze, v. t. p. 353To corrupt or undermine the morals of; to destroy or lessen the effect of moral principles on; to render corrupt in morals, in discipline, in courage, &c. “The demoralizing example of profligate…Dēm'os-thĕn'ic, a. p. 353Pertaining to, or in the style of, Demosthenes, the Grecian orator.De-mŏt'ic, a. p. 353(Gr. δημοτικός, from δῆμος, the people; Fr. démotique.) Pertaining to the people; popular; common. Demotic alphabet or character, a form of writing used in Egypt after six or seven centuries before…Dēm'p'ster, n. p. 353(O. Scots Law.) An officer of the court whose duty it was to pronounce the doom or sentence of the court. [Obs.] Burvill.De-mŭlçe', v. t. p. 353To soften; to soothe; to coax or wheedle. [Obs.] “Saturn was demulced or appeased.” Sir T. Elyot.De-mŭl'çent, a. p. 353Softening; mollifying; lenient; as, oil is demulcent.De-mŭl'cent, n. p. 353(Med.) A substance of a bland, mucilaginous nature, supposed to be capable of protecting the tissues from the action of irritant or acrid humors.