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.
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.Dī-min'ū-ēn'dō, adv. p. 375(Mus.) In a gradually diminishing manner; with abatement of tone; — a musical direction, written on the staff or indicated as in the cut.Di-min'ū-ent, a. p. 375Lessening; diminishing. [Obs.] Sanderson.Dim'i-nūte, a. p. 375Small; diminutive; diminished; reduced. [Obs.] Gorges.Dim'i-nū'tion, n. p. 375The act of diminishing, or of making or becoming less, or the state of being diminished; reduction in size, quantity, or degree; — opposed to augmentation or increase. 2. The act of lessening dignity…Dĭ-mĭn'ū-tive, a. p. 375Of small size; minute; little. 2. Tending to diminish. [Rare.] “Diminutive of liberty.” Shaftesbury.Dĭ-mĭn'ū-tive, n. p. 375Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing. “Water-flies, such diminutives of nature.” Dryden. 2. (Gram.) A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same…Dĭ-min'ū-tīve-ly, adv. p. 375In a diminutive manner; diminishingly; as, to speak diminutively of another.Di-min′ū-tive-ness, n. p. 375The quality of being diminutive; smallness; littleness; minuteness.Dim'ish, a. p. 375The same as DIMMISH.Dī-mis'sion, n. p. 375Leave to depart. [Obs.] Burrow.Dĭm’is-so-ry, a. p. 375Sending away; dismissing to another jurisdiction. Bp. Taylor. 2. Granting leave to depart. Prideaux. Letter dimissory. (Eccl.), one given by a bishop dismissing a person who is removing into another…Dī-mit′, v. t. p. 375To permit to go. [Obs.] 2. To grant; to farm; to let. [Obs.] Huloet.Dim'i-ty, n. p. 375A kind of stout, white cotton cloth, ribbed or figured.Dīm'ly, adv. p. 375In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with imperfect sight.Dim'mish or Dim'my, a. p. 375Somewhat dim; rather obscure, or of weak sight. Yon dimmy clouds . . . well employ your staining. Sidney.Dim'ness, n. p. 375The state or quality of being dim; lack of luster, clearness, or distinctness; dullness. 2. Obscurity of bodily vision or intellectual perception. Syn.—Darkness; obscurity; gloom. See DARKNESS.Di-môr'phism, n. p. 375The property of being dimorphous.Dī-môr'phous, a. p. 375Occurring under two distinct forms. 2. (Crystallog.) Crystallizing under two forms fundamentally different. Dana.Dĭm'ple, n. p. 375A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of the body, but especially on the cheek or chin; a delicate interruption of the roundness of the flesh, appearing particularly in early life…Dim'ple, v. i. p. 375To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities. And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden.Dim'ple, v. t. p. 375To mark with dimples or dimple-like depressions.Dĭm'ple-ment, n. p. 375The state of being dimpled or marked with gentle depressions. [Rare.] “The ground’s most gentle dimplement.” E. B. Browning.Dim'ply, a. p. 375Full of dimples, or small depressions; dimpled; as, the dimply flood. Warton.Dim’y-a-ry, n. p. 375(Zoöl.) A bivalve mollusk which closes its shell by means of two muscles. Dana.Dim'y-a-ry, a. p. 375Belonging or relating to the dimyaries.Din, n. p. 375Loud, stunning noise; racket; clamor. He knew the battle's din afar. W. Scott.Dĭn, v. t. p. 375To strike with continued or confused sound; to stun with noise; to harass with clamor; as, to din the ears with cries. At every turn, with dinning clang, The armorer's anvil clashed and rang. W.…Dī'nar, n. p. 375A petty imaginary money of Persia.Dĭn'ar-chy, n. p. 375See DIARCHY.Din'dle, n. p. 375(Bot.) (a.) A plant; the sow-thistle. (b.) The corn sow-thistle. (c.) The hawkweed. [Prov. Eng.]Dīne, v. i. p. 375To partake of the noon meal, or of the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner. Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. Shak.Dine, v. t. p. 375To give a dinner to or at; to furnish with the principal meal; to feed; as, the landlord dined a hundred men. A table massive enough to have dined Johnnie Armstrong and his merry men. W. Scott.