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.
Dī-grĕs'sion, n. p. 373The act of digressing or deviating, and especially of wandering from the main subject or argument in writing and speaking; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main design. The digressions…Di-grēs'sion-al, a. p. 373Pertaining to, or consisting in, digression; departing from the main purpose or subject. Warton.Di-grĕss'ive, a. p. 373Departing from the main subject; partaking of the nature of digression. Johnson.Di-grèss'ive-ly, adv. p. 373By way of digression.Dĭgue, n. p. 373A dike. [Obs.] Temple.Dī-gȳn'i-ā, n. p. 373(Bot.) An order of plants having two pistils or styles.Di-gȳn'i-an or Di-gȳ'nous, a. p. 373(Bot.) Having two pistils or styles.Di-hē'dral, a. p. 373Having two plane faces; as, the dihedral summit of a crystal. Dihedral angle, the angular space included between two planes which meet each other.Di'hex-ăg'o-nal, a. p. 373Consisting of two hexagonal parts united; thus, a dihexagonal pyramid is composed of two hexagonal pyramids placed base to base.Di-hĕx'a-hĕ'dral, a. p. 373(Crystallog.) Having the form of a hexahedral prism with trihedral summits.Di'ī-ām'b, n. p. 373See DIAMBUS.Dī'ī-ăm'bus, n. p. 373(Pros.) A double iambus; a foot consisting of two iambuses. Crosby.Di-jū'di-cant, n. p. 373One who dijudicates, or distinguishes and decides. [Obs.] Wood.Di-jū'di-cāte, v. t. p. 373To make a judicial decision; to decide; to determine. [Obs.] Hales.Di-jū/di-cā'tion, n. p. 373The act of dijudicating; determination. [Obs.] Cockram.Dike, v. i. p. 373To dig. [Obs.] Chaucer.Dike, n. p. 373A ditch; a channel for water made by digging. “Little channels or dikes cut to every bed.” Ray. 2. A mound thrown up to prevent low lands from being inundated by the sea or a river. Dikes that the…Dike, v. t. p. 373To surround or protect with a dike; to secure with a bank. 2. To drain by a dike or dikes.Dik'er, n. p. 373A hedger; a ditcher. Halliwell.Di-lăç'er-āte, v. t. p. 373To rend asunder; to separate by force; to tear. Browne.Di-lăç'er-ā'tion, n. p. 373The act of dilacerating or rending asunder. Arbuthnot.Di-lā'ni-āte, v. t. p. 373To rend in pieces; to mangle; to lacerate. [Obs.] Howell.Dī-lā'ni-ā'tion, n. p. 374A tearing in pieces. [Obs.]Di-lăp'i-dāte, v. t. p. 374To bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin, by misuse or through neglect; to destroy the fairness and good condition of;—said of a building. If the bishop, parson, or vicar, &c., dilapidates…Dĭ-lāp'i-dāte, v. i. p. 374To get out of repair; to fall into partial ruin; to become decayed. A deserted and dilapidated building that had been a barn. Cooper.Dĭ-lăp'ĭ-dā'tion, n. p. 374The act of dilapidating, or the state of being dilapidated, reduced to decay, partially ruined, or squandered. Tell the people that they are relieved by the dilapidation of their public estate.…Dī-lāp'i-dā'tor, n. p. 374One who causes dilapidation.Di-lā'ta-bil'i-ty, n. p. 374The quality of being dilatable, or admitting expansion;—opposed to contractibility. Ral.Dī-lāt′a-ble, a. p. 374Capable of expansion or extension; admitting dilatation;—opposed to contractible; as, the lungs are dilatable by the force of air; air is dilatable by heat.Di'la-tā'tion, n. p. 374The act of dilating or expanding; expansion; augmentation of bulk; a spreading or extending in all directions; the state of being expanded; dilation. 2. (Surg.) The enlargement of a canal, opening…Dī-lāte', v. t. p. 374To expand; to distend; to enlarge or extend in all directions; to swell;—opposed to contract; as, the air dilates the lungs; air is dilated by increase of heat. 2. To enlarge upon; to relate at…Dĭ-lāte’ or Dī-lāte’, v. i. p. 374To grow wide; to expand; to swell or extend in all directions. His heart dilates and glories in his strength. Addison. 2. To speak largely and copiously; to dwell in narration; to expatiate; to…Dĭ-lāte’ or Dī-lāte’, a. p. 374Expanded; extensive. [Obs.] B. Jonson.Dī-lā'ted or Dī-lāt'ed, p. a. p. 374Expanded; distended; enlarged. 2. (Bot.) Widening upward or expanding into a lamina. 3. (Zoöl.) Having the margin wide and spreading.Dĭ-lāt’er or Dī-lāt’er, n. p. 374One who dilates, expands, or enlarges.Di-lā'tion or Di-la'tion, n. p. 374Delay. [Obs.] Sp. Hall.Dĭ-lā'tion or Dī-lā'tion, n. p. 374The act of dilating, or the state of being dilated; expansion; dilatation. [Modern.] E. B. Browning. At first her eye with slow dilation rolled. Tennyson. Her murderous perspective before the doing…Dī-lā'tive or Dīlā'tive, a. p. 374Causing dilatation; expansive.Dĭ-lāt'or or Dī-lāt'or, n. p. 374That which widens or expands; a muscle that dilates any part.Dĭl'a-to-ri-ly, adv. p. 374With delay; tardily.Dil'a-to-ri-ness, n. p. 374The quality of being dilatory; lateness; slowness; tardiness.Dīl'a-to-ry, a. p. 374Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given to procrastination; delaying; lingering. 2. Marked with procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; — said of actions. 3. Intended to make…Dī-lĕc'tion, n. p. 374Love; preference; choice. [Obs.] Martin.Dī-lēm'mā, n. p. 374(Logic.) An argument which presents an antagonist with two or more alternatives, but is equally conclusive against him, whichever alternative he chooses. The following are instances of the dilemma. A…Dīl'et-tănt', a. p. 374Of, or pertaining to, dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant speculation. Carlyle.Dĭl'et-tānt' or Dĭl'et-tān'te, n. p. 374An admirer or lover of the fine arts; an amateur; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge, desultorily, without serious purpose, or for amusement only.Dīl'et-tān’te-ism, n. p. 374The quality of being a dilettante; desultoriness and frivolity in following art, science, or literature.Dĭl'i-gence, n. p. 374The quality of being diligent; interested and persevering application; sedulousness; devoted and painstaking effort to accomplish what is undertaken; assiduous industry; careful attention. 2. (Scots…Diligence, n. p. 374A four-wheeled public stage-coach, used in France.Dīl'i-gen-cy, n. p. 374Diligence; assiduous endeavor; sedulousness. [Obs.] Win all these diligencies to join and unite into one general and brotherly search after truth. Milton.Dīl'i-gent, a. p. 374Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; assiduous; not careless or negligent; steady and devoted in application; constantly active. “Diligent cultivation of elegant literature.” Prescott. 2.…Dĭl'i-gent-ly, adv. p. 374In a diligent manner; with industry or assiduity; not carelessly; not negligently. Ye shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God. Deut. vi. 17.Dill, n. p. 374(Bot.) A plant (the Anethum graveolens), the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic.Dill'ing, n. p. 374Darling; favorite. [Obs.] Whilst the birds billing, Each one with his dilling. Drayton.Díl'isk, n. p. 374An Irish name for dulce.Dill'y, n. p. 374A kind of stage-coach. "The Derby dilly." Canning.Dil'ly-dál'ly, v. i. p. 374To loiter or trifle.Dil'o-gy, n. p. 374(Rhet.) A doubtful or ambiguous speech; a speech which may signify two different things; a figure in which a word is used in an equivocal sense. [Obs.]Dĭ-lū'çid, a. p. 374Clear; lucid. [Obs.] Bacon.Di-lū'çi-dāte, v. t. p. 374To make clear; to elucidate. [Obs.] Boyle.