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.
Dis-creet', a. p. 383Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious; circumspect; not rash, headlong, or heedless; cautious; wary. It is the…Dis-creet'ly, adv. p. 383In a discreet manner; prudently; circumspectly.Dis-creet'ness, n. p. 383The quality of being discreet; discretion.Dis-crēp'ance or Dis-crēp'an-cy, n. p. 383The state or quality of being discrepant; disagreement; variance; incongruity; inconsistency. There hath been ever a discrepance of vesture, of youth and age. Sir T. Elyot. There is no real…Dis-crēp'ant, a. p. 383Discordant; at variance; disagreeing; different. The Egyptians were ... the most oddly discrepant from the rest in their manner of worship. (Cudworth.)Dis-crēte', a. p. 383Separate; distinct; disjunct. 2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, I resign my life, but not my honor, is a discrete proposition. Discrete movement of the voice, a leap…Dis-crēte', v. t. p. 383To separate. [Obs.] Browne.Dis-crē'tion, n. p. 383Disjunction; separation. [Obs.] Mede. 2. The quality of being discreet; sagacity; sound and cautious judgment; prudence; circumspection; wariness; caution. The greatest parts without discretion may…Dis-crē'tion-al, a. p. 383[Fr. dis-Dis-crē'tion-a-ry p. 383Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or judgment; as, the president of the United States is, in certain cases, invested with discretionary powers, to act according to circumstances.Dis-crē'tion-al-ly or Dis-crē'tion-a-ri-ly, adv. p. 383At discretion; according to discretion.Dis-crē'tive, a. p. 383Serving or accustomed to discrete; disjunctive; separating. “A discretive conceptualist.” Coleridge. Discretive proposition (Logic & Gram.), one that expresses distinction, opposition, or variety, by…Dis-crē'tive-ly, adv. p. 383In a discretive manner.Dis-crim'i-na-ble, a. p. 383Capable of being discriminated. [Obs.] Bailey.Dis-crim'i-nant, n. p. 383(Math.) The eliminant of the n partial differentials of any homogeneous function of n variables. See ELIMINANT.Dis-crim'i-nāte, v. t. p. 383To set apart as being different; to separate; to distinguish; as, in the last judgment, the righteous will be discriminated from the wicked. 2. To mark as different; to distinguish by a peculiar note…Dis-crim'i-nāte, v. i. p. 383To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; to judge with nicety; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.Dis-crim'i-nate, a. p. 383Distinguished; having the difference marked. Bacon.Dis-crim'i-nate-ly, adv. p. 383In a discriminating manner; distinctly.Dis-crim'i-nate-ness, n. p. 383The state of being discriminated; distinctness.Dis-crĭm'i-nā'tion, n. p. 383The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences. To make an anxious discrimination between the miracle absolute and providential. Trench. 2. The state of being…Dis-crim'i-na-tive, a. p. 383Marking a difference; distinguishing; distinctive; characteristic. “That peculiar and discriminative form of life.” Johnson. 2. Observing distinctions; making differences; discriminating.…Dis-crim'i-na-tive-ly, adv. p. 383With discrimination or distinction. Foster.Dis-crĭm′ĭ-nā′tor, n. p. 383One who discriminates.Dis-crim'i-na-to-ry, a. p. 383Discriminative.Dis-crim'i-noūs, a. p. 383Hazardous; dangerous. [Obs.] Harvey.Dis-crown', v. t. p. 383To deprive of a crown. The end had not crowned the work; it not unreasonably discrowned the workman. Motley.Dis-cru'ci-ā-ting, a. p. 383Excruciating. [Obs.] Browne.Dis-cūm'bi-to-ry, a. p. 383Leaning; inclining; suited or adapted to a reclining posture. [Obs.] Browne.Dis-cŭl'pāte, v. t. p. 383To free from blame or fault; to exculpate; to excuse. [Obs.] I almost fear you think I begged it, but I can disculpate myself. H. Walpole.Dis/cul-pā'tion, n. p. 384Exculpation. [Obs.] Burke.Dis-cŭl'pa-to-ry, a. p. 384Tending to exculpate.Dis-cūm'ben-cy, n. p. 384The act of leaning at meat, according to the manner of the ancients. Browne.Dis-cūm’ber, v. t. p. 384To free from that which cumbers or impedes; to disengage from a troublesome weight; to disencumber. Pope.Dis-cūre', v. t. p. 384To discover; to reveal. [Obs.] I will, if please you it discure, assay To ease you of that ill. Spenser.Dis-cŭr'rent, a. p. 384Not current. [Obs.] Sandys.Dis-cūr'sion, n. p. 384Expatiation; discourse; rambling or desultory talk. Hobbes. 2. The act of discoursing or reasoning. Coleridge.Dis-cūr'sist, n. p. 384A discourser or disputer. [Obs.] L. Addison.Dis-cūr'sive, a. p. 384Capable of knowing and inferring by discourse; rational; discursive. Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive. Milton. 2. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving…Dis-cŭr'sive-ly, adv. p. 384In a discursive manner; argumentatively; digressively. Hale.Dis-cûr'sive-ness, n. p. 384The state or quality of being discursive. Barrow.Dis-cûr'so-ry, a. p. 384Argumentative; discursive; reasoning. Ep. Hall.Dis'cus, n. p. 384A quoit; a circular and usually perforated plate of metal or stone, intended to be pitched or hurled at a mark. 2. A disk. See DISK.Dis-cūss', v. t. p. 384To break up; to disperse; to dissolve and remove; — said especially of tumors. “A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples.” Rambler. 2. To shake off; to put away. [Obs.] “All regard of shame she…Dis-cūss'er, n. p. 384One who discusses; one who sifts or examines.Dis-cŭs'sion, n. p. 384The act or process of discussing, breaking up, or dispersing, as a tumor, or the like. 2. The act of discussing or reasoning; examination by argument; debate; disputation. The liberty of discussion…Dis-cŭs'sion-al, a. p. 384Pertaining to discussion.Dis-cŭss'ive, a. p. 384Able or tending to discuss, resolve, or disperse tumors or coagulated matter. 2. Doubt-dispelling; decisive. [Rare.] “A kind of peremptory and discussive voice.” Hopkins.Dis-cūss'ive, n. p. 384(Med.) A medicine that discusses or disperses morbid humors; a discutient.Dis-cū'tient, a. p. 384Serving to disperse morbid matter; discussive.Dis-cū'tient, n. p. 384(Med.) A medicine or application serving to disperse a tumor or any coagulated fluid in the body. Coxe.Dis-dāin', v. t. p. 384To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming. Disdaining . . . that any should bear the armor of the best knight living. Sidney. 2. To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving…Dis-dāin', v. i. p. 384To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did . . . they disdained. Genevan Test.Dis-dāin′, n. p. 384A feeling of contempt and aversion or abhorrence; the regarding any thing as beneath one; scorn. How my soul is moved with just disdain! Pope. 2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with…Dis-dāined', a. p. 384Disdainful. [Obs. and very rare.] Revenge the jeering and disdained contempt Of this proud king. Shak.Dis-dāin'ful, a. p. 384Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful; contemptuous; haughty. From these. Turning disdainful to an equal good. Akenside.Dis-dāin'ful-ly, adv. p. 384In a disdainful manner; contemptuously; with scorn.Dis-dāin'ful-ness, n. p. 384The state of being disdainful; contemptuousness; haughty scorn. Sidney.Dis-dāin'ish-ly, adv. p. 384Disdainfully. [Obs.] Vives.Dis-dāin'ous, a. p. 384Disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.