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.
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…Di-mĕn'sion-less, a. p. 375Without dimensions; having no appreciable or noteworthy extent.Di-mĕn'si-ty, n. p. 375Dimension; extent; capacity. Howell.Di-mĕn'sive, a. p. 375Marking the dimensions, outlines, or limits; having dimensions; measurable. Who can draw the soul's dimensive lines? Davies.Dĭm'er-oüs, a. p. 375Composed of two parts; having its parts in twins; also, consisting of two unrelated constituents.Dĭm'e-ter, a. p. 375Having two poetical measures.Dim'e-ter, n. p. 375(Pros.) A verse of two measures.Di-mĕt'rie, a. p. 375(Crystallog.) Having axes of two kinds, the vertical being unequal to the lateral, as the square prism and square octahedron; — said of crystals. Dana.Dim'i-cā'tion, n. p. 375A battle or fight; contest. [Obs.] Bailey.Di-mĭd′i-āte, v. t. p. 375To divide in two equal parts. [Obs.] Cockeram. 2. (Her.) To represent the half of.Dĭ-mĭd’ĭ-ate, a. p. 375Divided into two equal parts. 2. (Nat. Hist.) Consisting of but one half of what the normal condition requires; as, a dimidiate leaf, which has only one side developed. 3. Having a shape that appears…Dĭ-mĭd'ĭ-ā'tion, n. p. 375The act of dimidiating or halving; division into two equal parts. [Rare.] Bailey.Dĭ-mĭn'ish, v. t. p. 375To make smaller in any manner; to reduce in bulk or amount; to lessen; to abate. Not diminish, but rather increase, the debt. Barrow. 2. To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to…Dĭ-mĭn'ish, v. i. p. 375To become or appear less or smaller; to lessen; as, the apparent size of an object diminishes as we recede from it.Di-mĭn'ish-a-ble, a. p. 375Capable of being diminished or reduced in size or quality.Di-mĭn'ish-er, n. p. 375One who, or that which, diminishes.Di-mīn'ish-ing-ly, adv. p. 375In a manner to diminish, or to lessen the dignity or consideration of any thing.Dĭ-mĭn'ish-ment, n. p. 375Diminution; lessening. [Obs.] Cheke.