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-tĕn'tion, n. p. 395The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or in all directions; the state of being distended; as, the distention of the lungs. 2. Breadth; extent or space occupied by the thing…Dis-tĕr', v. t. p. 395To banish from a country. [Obs.] Howell.Dis-tĕr'mi-nate, a. p. 395Separated by boundaries. [Obs.] Hale.Dis-tĕr'mi-nā'tion, n. p. 395Separation by boundaries. [Obs.] Hammond.Dis'thēne, n. p. 395(Min.) Kyanite; — so called in allusion to its unequal hardness and electrical properties in two different directions. See KYANITE. Dana.Dis-thrōne' or Dis-thrōn'ize, v. t. p. 395To dethrone. [Obs.] Spenser.Dĭs'tich, n. p. 395(Pros.) (a.) A couple of verses or poetic lines making complete sense; an epigram of two verses. (b.) A couplet of two lines, of different kinds of verse, which are repeated in the same order.Dĭs'tich or Dĭs'tich-oŭs, a. p. 395Having two rows, or disposed in two rows; two-ranked. Distichous spike (Bot.), one having the flowers pointing two ways. Martyn.Dis-tĭll', v. i. p. 395To drop; to fall in drops. Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain. Pope. 2. To flow gently, or in a small stream. The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia. Raleigh. 3. To…Dis-tĭll', v. t. p. 395To let fall in drops; to throw down in drops; as, the clouds distill water on the earth. The dew which on the tender grass The evening had distilled. Drayton. 2. To subject to, or obtain by, the…Dis-tĭll'a-ble, a. p. 395Capable of being distilled; fit for distillation. Sherwood.Dis-tĭll'ate, n. p. 395(Chem.) The product of distillation.Dĭs'til-lā'tion, n. p. 395The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring or throwing down in drops. 2. That which falls in drops. [Rare.] Johnson. 3. The volatilization of a liquid in a closed vessel by heat, and its…Dis-tĭll'a-to-ry, a. p. 395Belonging to distillation; used for distilling; as, distillatory vessels. Hooper.Dis-tĭll'er, n. p. 395One who distills; one whose occupation is to extract spirit by distillation.Dis-tĭll'er-y, n. p. 395The building and works where distilling is carried on. 2. The act of distilling spirits. [Rare.] Todd.Dis-tĭll'ment, n. p. 395That which distills. [Rare.] Shak.Dis-tĭnct', a. p. 395Having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign, or by a note or mark. For no place Is yet distinct by name. Milton. 2. Spotted; variegated; marked. The which was dight With divers flowers…Dis-tĭnct', v. t. p. 395To distinguish. [Obs.] Chaucer.Dis-tĭnc'tion, n. p. 395The marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division. The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known. Dryden. 2. A note or mark of difference. [Obs.] 3. Observation of the…Dis-tĭnct'ive, a. p. 395Marking or expressing distinction or difference. “The distinctive character and institutions of New England.” Bancroft. 2. Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating. [Rare.] Browne.Dis-tĭnct'ive-ly, adv. p. 395With distinction; plainly.Dis-tĭnct'ive-ness, n. p. 395State of being distinctive.Dis-tĭnct'ly, adv. p. 395With distinctness; not confusedly; without the blending of one part or thing with another; clearly; plainly; as, to view an object distinctly. 2. With meaning; significantly. [Obs.] Thou dost snore…Dis-tĭnct'ness, n. p. 395The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference that prevents confusion of parts or things. “The soul’s . . . distinctness from the body.” Cudworth. 2. Nice discrimination; hence…Dis-tĭnct'ūre, n. p. 395The quality of being distinct; distinctness. [Rare.]Dis-tĭn'guish, v. t. p. 395To separate or recognize by visible marks; as, the manufacturer distinguishes pieces of cloth by some mark or impression. 2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject; as…Dis-tin'guish, v. i. p. 395To make distinctions; to find or show the difference; to exercise discrimination; as, it is the province of a judge to distinguish between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle. 2. To…Dis-tin'guish-a-ble, a. p. 395Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible; capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable from a shrub. A simple idea . . . is not distinguishable into…Dis-tin'guish-a-ble-ness, n. p. 395The state of being distinguishable.Dis-tin'guish-a-bly, adv. p. 395So as to be distinguished.Dis-tin′guished, p. a. p. 395Having distinction; made eminent or known. Syn.—Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious.—DISTINGUISHED, EMINENT, CONSPICUOUS, CELEBRATED, ILLUSTRIOUS. A man…Dis-tĭn'guish-ed-ly, adv. p. 395In a distinguished manner. [Rare.] Swift.Dis-tĭn'guish-er, n. p. 395One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from another by marks of diversity. Broome. 2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or judicious observer. Dryden.Dis-tīn'guish-ing, p. a. p. 395Constituting difference, or distinction from every thing else; peculiar; characteristic. “The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion.” Locke. Distinguishing pennant (Naut.), a particular…Dis-tĭn'guish-ing-ly, adv. p. 395With distinction; with some mark of preference. Pope.Dis-tĭng'guish-ment, n. p. 395Observation of difference; distinction. Graunt.Dis-tī'tle, v. t. p. 395To deprive of title or right. B. Jonson.Dīs'to-mā, n. p. 395(Zoöl.) A genus of intestinal worms, having two sucker disks, one at each extremity, for attaching themselves to objects.Dis-tōrt', v. t. p. 395[Lat. distorquere, distortum, from prefix dis and torquere, to turn about, to twist; It. distorcere, Sp. & Pg. detorcer, Pr. destorser, O. Fr. destordre, N. Fr. détordre, détorquer. 1. To twist out…Dis-tôrt’, a. p. 395Distorted; deformed. [Obs.] Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spencer.Dis-tôrt'er, n. p. 395One who, or that which, distorts.Dis-tôr'tion, n. p. 395The act of distorting or wresting; a twisting out of regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body. 2. The state of being twisted out of shape; deviation from…Dis-tôrt'ive, a. p. 396Causing or having distortions.Dis-trāct', v. t. p. 396To draw apart or away; to divide. “A city . . . distracted from itself!” Browne. 2. To perplex by inconsistent appeals; to confuse; as, to distract the eye. Mixed metaphors . . . distract the…Dis-trăct', a. p. 396Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.] 2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] Dryden.Dis-trăct'ed-ly, adv. p. 396Madly; wildly. Shak.Dis-trāet'ed-ness, n. p. 396A state of being distracted; madness. Bp. Hall.Dis-trăct'er, n. p. 396One who distracts.Dis-trăct'ful, a. p. 396Full of distracting influence. [Rare.] Heywood.Dis-trăct'i-ble, a. p. 396Capable of being drawn aside.Dis-trăc'tile, n. p. 396(Bot.) A connective which divides into two unequal portions, one of which supports a cell, while the other does not. Brande.Dis-trăc'tion, n. p. 396The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation; a diversion. “To create distractions among us.” Burnet. 2. A diversity of direction. [Obs.] His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled…Dis-trăc'tiŏus, a. p. 396Distractive. [Obs.] Cudworth.Dis-trāct'ive, a. p. 396Causing perplexity; distracting. “Distractive thoughts.” Bp. Hall.Dis-trāin′, v. t. p. 396To rend; to tear. [Obs.] Neither guile nor force might it distrain. Spencer. 2. (Law.) To seize for debt; to take, without legal process, from the possession of a wrong-doer, into the possession of…Dis-trâin', v. i. p. 396To make seizure of goods. On whom I can not distrain for debt. Camden.Dis-trāin'a-ble, a. p. 396Liable to be taken for distress. Blackstone.Dis-trāin'er, n. p. 396The same as DISTRAINOR.Dis-trāin'or, n. p. 396One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels. Burrill.