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.
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.Di-lū'çi-dā'tion, n. p. 374The act of making clear. [Obs.] Boyle.Di'lu-cĭd'i-ty, n. p. 374The quality of being dilucid; clearness. [Obs.] Holland.Dĭ-lū'çid-ly, adv. p. 374Clearly. [Obs.] Hammond.Dĭl'ū-ent, a. p. 374Diluting; making more liquid, thinner, or weaker by admixture, especially of water. Arbuthnot.Dĭl'ū-ent, n. p. 374That which dilutes, liquidizes, thins, or weakens any thing by mixture with it; especially, in medicine, a substance used for effecting dilution of the blood. There is no real diluent but water.…Dĭ-lūte', v. t. p. 374To make more liquid by admixture with something; to thin and dissolve by mixing. Mix their watery store With the chyle's current, and dilute it more. Blackmore. 2. To diminish, by mixing, the…Dĭ-lūte', v. i. p. 374To become attenuated or thin; as, it dilutes easily.Di-lūte', a. p. 374Diluted; thin; attenuated; reduced in strength, as spirit or color. “A dilute and waterish exposition.” Hopkins.Di-lūt'ed-ly, adv. p. 374In a diluted manner or form.Di-lūte'ness, n. p. 374The state of being dilute; thinness; attenuation. Wilkins.Dī-lūt'er, n. p. 374One who, or that which, dilutes or makes thin or more liquid.Di-lū'tion, n. p. 374The act of diluting, or the state of being diluted, thinned, or weakened. Arbuthnot.Dĭ-lū'vi-al, a. p. 374Pertaining to a flood or deluge, more especially to the deluge in Noah's days. 2. Effected or produced by a flood or deluge of marine waters; — said especially of superficial deposits.Di-lū'vi-al-ist, n. p. 374One who explains geological phenomena by the Noachian deluge. Lyell.Dĭ-lū'vi-an, a. p. 374Pertaining to a deluge, or to the Noachian deluge; dating from the time of the deluge. “Diluvian truths and patriarchal lore.” Wordsworth.Di-lū'vi-āte, v. i. p. 374To run as a flood. [Obs.] Sandys.Dĭ-lū'vi-ōn or Dĭ-lū'vi-ūm, n. p. 374(Geol.) A deposit of superficial loam, sand, gravel, pebbles, &c., caused by former action of the sea.Dĭlve, v. i. p. 374To cleanse ore. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.Dĭm, a. p. 374Not bright or distinct; wanting brilliancy, luminousness, or clearness; of obscure luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; mysterious. “The dim magnificence of poetry.” Whewell. How is the gold…Dim, v. t. p. 374To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull. A king among his courtiers, who dims all his attendants. Dryden. Now set the sun, and…Dim'ble, n. p. 375A bower; a cell or retreat. [Obs.] B. Jon.Dime, n. p. 375A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents; the tenth of a dollar. [Formerly written disme.]Di-mĕn'sion, n. p. 375Measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness, or circumference; extension;—usually in the plural, measure in length, breadth, and thickness; extent; size; as, the dimensions of a…