Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Di-chōt'o-mist, n. p. 370One who dichotomizes.Di-chŏt'/o-mīze, v. t. p. 370To cut into two parts; to divide into pairs; to halve; to bisect. [Rare.] 2. (Astron.) To exhibit as a half-disk or semicircle. [[The moon] was dichotomized.] Whewell.Di-chōt'o-mize, v. i. p. 370To separate or divide into two parts, or into pairs. R. Owen.Di-chŏt'o-moŭs, a. p. 370(Bot.) Regularly dividing by pairs, from top to bottom; as, a dichotomous stem. Martyn.Di-chōt'o-moŭs-ly, adv. p. 370In a dichotomous manner.Di-chōt′o-my, n. p. 370A cutting in two; a division. [Obs.] “A general breach or dichotomy with their church.” Browne. 2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into two subordinate parts. 3.…Di-chrō'ic, a. p. 370Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal. Dana.Di'chro-ïsm, n. p. 370(Opt.) The property of presenting different colors by transmitted light, when viewed in two different directions, the colors being unlike in the direction of unlike or unequal axes. Dana.Di'-chro-ite, n. p. 370(Min.) Iolite;—so called from its presenting two different colors when viewed in two different directions. See IOLITE.Dī'-chrō'mate, n. p. 370(Chem.) A double chromate.Di'-chro-māt'ic, a. p. 370Having or producing two colors.Di′chro-oŭs, a. p. 370Dichroic.Di'chro-scōpe, n. p. 370An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals. Dana.Di'-chro-scōp'ic, a. p. 370Pertaining to dichroism, or observations with the dichroscope. Dana.Dick'ens, n. p. 370The devil;—used as a vulgar interjection. “What the dickens does he mean?” Congreve.Dick'er, n. p. 370The number or quantity of ten, particularly, ten hides or skins; a dakir: as, a dicker of gloves. [Obs.] “A dicker of cow-hides.” Heywood. 2. A chaffering barter or exchange of small wares. [U. S.]…Dick'er, v. i. p. 370To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U. S.] “Ready to dicker and to swap.” Cooper.Dick'ey or Dick'y, n. p. 370A seat behind a carriage, for servants, &c. 2. A bosom made to be tied over the front of a shirt. 3. A gentleman’s shirt-collar. [New Eng.]Di-clīn'ic or Di'clī-nate, a. p. 370(Crystallog.) Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique. Dana.Di'cli-noŭs, a. p. 370(Bot.) Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Gray.Di-eō'cōŭs, a. p. 370(Bot.) Two-grained; containing two grains of seed; consisting of two cohering closed carpels or cocci, with one seed in each; as, a dicoccous capsule. Martyn.Di-cœ'loüs, a. p. 370Having two cavities. R. Owen.Di'co-ty'le, n. p. 370(Zoöl.) A genus of quadrupeds closely related to the hog, and including the peccaries.Di-côt/y-lē'don, n. p. 370(Bot.) A plant whose seeds divide into two lobes in germinating.Di-cŏt'y-lēd'o-nŏus, a. p. 370(Bot.) Having two cotyledons or lobes; as, a dicotyledonous plant.Dī-crōt'ic, a. p. 370Having a double or rebounding action;—said of the pulse.Di'cro-tis, a. p. 370(Med.) Beating twice as rapidly as usual; — said of the pulse. Dunglison.Dic-tā'men, n. p. 370That which is dictated to one person by another; a precept; an injunction; a dictation.Dic-tam'nus, n. p. 370(Bot.) (a.) A genus of fragrant herbaceous plants, the roots of some species of which are used in medicine, being possessed of sedative and drastic qualities; Fraxinella. (b.) A small evergreen shrub…Dic'tāte, v. t. p. 370To deliver or state for another person to reduce to writing; to utter so that another may write down. “The mind which dictated the Iliad.” Wayland. 2. To communicate with authority; to deliver to a…Dic'tate, n. p. 370A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule or principle; a prescription; a direction. I credit what the Grecian dictates say. Prior. Syn.—Command; injunction…Dic-tā/tion, n. p. 370The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing. It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.Dic-tā'tor, n. p. 370One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims for the direction of others. 2. One invested with absolute authority, especially a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and…Dic-ta-tō'ri-al, a. p. 370Pertaining or suited to a dictator; absolute; unlimited. “Military powers quite dictatorial.” Irving. 2. Characteristic of a dictator; imperious; dogmatical; overbearing; as, a dictatorial tone or…Dic-ta-tō’ri-al-ly, adv. p. 370In the manner of a dictator.Dīc'ta-tō'ri-an, a. p. 370Suited to a dictator; dictatorial. [Obs.] State Trials.Dic-tā'tor-ship, n. p. 370The office of a dictator; the term of a dictator’s office.Dic'ta-to-ry, a. p. 370Dogmatical; overbearing. Milton.Die-tā'tress or Die-tā'trix, n. p. 370A female who dictates or commands.Dic-tā'tūre, n. p. 370Office of a dictator; dictatorship. Bacon.Dĭc'tion, n. p. 370Choice of words; selection of terms; manner of expression; style; phraseology. His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur. De Quincey. Syn.—DICTION, STYLE, PHRASEOLOGY. Style…Dic'tion-ā'ri-an, n. p. 370One who constructs a dictionary; a lexicographer. [Rare.] Dancson.Dic'tion-a-ry, n. p. 370A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a word-book. 2. Hence, a work containing information in any…Dĭc'tum or Dĭc'ta, n. p. 371An authoritative saying or assertion. “A class of critical dicta every where current.” M. Arnold. 2. (Law.) (a.) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the…Di-dăc'tic, n. p. 371A treatise on teaching or education. [Obs.] Milton.Di-dăc'tic or Di-dăc'tic-al, a. p. 371Fitted or inclined to teach; intended to instruct; preceptive; arranged in a form suitable for instruction; systematic. “The finest didactic poem in any language.” Macaulay.Di-dăc'tic-al-ly, adv. p. 371In a didactic manner.Di'dac-tic'i-ty, n. p. 371Devotion to teaching. Hare.Di-dăc'tics, n. sing. p. 371The art or science of teaching. [See Note under MATHEMATICS.]Di-dæ'tyl, n. p. 371An animal having two toes.Dī-dăc'tyl or Dī-dăc'tyl-ōus, a. p. 371Having two toes.Di'dal, n. p. 371A kind of triangular spade.Did’ap-per, n. p. 371(Ornith.) A certain bird that dives into the water; a species of grebe; the little, or black-chin grebe; dab-chick; Podiceps minor.Dī-dăs'ca-lar or Dī-das-cal'ic, a. p. 371Didactic; preceptive. [Rare.]Did'der, v. i. p. 371To shiver with cold. Sherwood.Did'dle, v. t. p. 371To cheat or overreach.Did'dle, v. i. p. 371To totter, as a child in walking. Quarles.Dī-dĕl’phie, a. p. 371Pertaining to the didelphys. [Written also didelphyc.]Di-dĕl'phid, n. p. 371A marsupial animal.Di-dĕl'phid, a. p. 371Pertaining to the marsupials.