Ding"dong` the"o*ry. (Philol.) The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the brain a phonetic expression; -- jocosely so called from the analogy of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper.
||Di`o*ny"si*a (?), n. pl. [L., fr. Gr. &?;.] (Class. Antiq.) Any of the festivals held in honor of the Olympian god Dionysus. They correspond to the Roman Bacchanalia; the greater Dionysia were held at Athens in March or April, and were celebrated with elaborate performances of both tragedies and comedies.
Di`o*ny"si*ac (?), a. Of or pertaining to Dionysus or to the Dionysia; Bacchic; as, a Dionysiac festival; the Dionysiac theater at Athens.
Dip, n. 1. A gymnastic exercise on the parallel bars in which the performer, resting on his hands, lets his arms bend and his body sink until his chin is level with the bars, and then raises himself by straightening his arms.
2. In the turpentine industry, the viscid exudation, which is dipped out from incisions in the trees; as, virgin dip (the runnings of the first year), yellow dip (the runnings of subsequent years).
3. (Aëronautics) A sudden drop followed by a climb, usually to avoid obstacles or as the result of getting into an airhole.
Di"plex (?), a. [Pref. di- + - plex, as in duplex.] (Teleg.) Pertaining to the sending of two messages in the same direction at the same time. Diplex and contraplex are the two varieties of duplex.
Dip"lo*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; double + -graph.] An instrument used for double writing, as one for producing embossed writing for the blind and ordinary writing at the same time. -- Dip`lo*graph"ic*al (#), a. -- Dip*log"ra*phy (#), n.
{ Dip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy } (?), a. Deep-sea; as, a dipsey line; a dipsy lead. [Sailor's Cant]
{ Dip"sey, Dip"sie, Dip"sy }, n. 1. A sinker attached to a fishing line; also, a line having several branches, each with such a sinker, used in deep-sea fishing. [Local, U. S.]