Delicate burthens of dildos and fadings.
Shak.
Dil"do, n. (Bot.) A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies (Cereus Swartzii).
Di*lec"tion (?), n. [L. dilectio: dilection. See Diligent.] Love; choice. [Obs.] T. Martin.
Di*lem"ma (?), n. [L. dilemma, Gr. &?;; di- = di`s- twice + &?; to take. See Lemma.] 1. (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 young rhetorician applied to an old sophist to be taught the art of pleading, and bargained for a certain reward to be paid when he should gain a cause. The master sued for his reward, and the scholar endeavored to &?;lude his claim by a dilemma. "If I gain my cause, I shall withhold your pay, because the judge's award will be against you; if I lose it, I may withhold it, because I shall not yet have gained a cause." "On the contrary," says the master, "if you gain your cause, you must pay me, because you are to pay me when you gain a cause; if you lose it, you must pay me, because the judge will award it." Johnson.
2. A state of things in which evils or obstacles present themselves on every side, and it is difficult to determine what course to pursue; a vexatious alternative or predicament; a difficult choice or position.
A strong dilemma in a desperate case!
To act with infamy, or quit the place.
Swift.
Horns of a dilemma, alternatives, each of which is equally difficult of encountering.
Dil"et*tant` (?), a. Of or pertaining to dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant speculation. Carlyle.
Dil`et*tant" (?), n. A dilettante.
Though few art lovers can be connoisseurs, many are dilettants.
Fairholt.
||Dil`et*tan"te (?), n.; pl. Dilettanti (#). [It., prop. p. pr. of dillettare to take delight in, fr. L. delectare to delight. See Delight, v. t.] An admirer or lover of the fine arts; popularly, an amateur; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge, desultorily, or for amusement only.
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The true poet is not an eccentric creature, not a mere artist living only for art, not a dreamer or a dilettante, sipping the nectar of existence, while he keeps aloof from its deeper interests.
J. C. Shairp.
Dil`et*tan"te*ish (?), a. Somewhat like a dilettante.
Dil`et*tan"te*ism (?), n. The state or quality of being a dilettante; the desultory pursuit of art, science, or literature.
Dil`et*tant"ish (?), a. Dilettanteish.
Dil`et*tant"ism (?), n. Same as Dilettanteism. F. Harrison.
Dil"i*gence (?), n. [F. diligence, L. diligentia.] 1. The quality of being diligent; carefulness; careful attention; -- the opposite of negligence.
2. Interested and persevering application; devoted and painstaking effort to accomplish what is undertaken; assiduity in service.
That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence.
Shak.
3. (Scots Law) Process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings.
To do one's diligence, give diligence, use diligence, to exert one's self; to make interested and earnest endeavor.
And each of them doth all his diligence
To do unto the festé reverence.
Chaucer.
Syn. -- Attention; industry; assiduity; sedulousness; earnestness; constancy; heed; heedfulness; care; caution. -- Diligence, Industry. Industry has the wider sense of the two, implying an habitual devotion to labor for some valuable end, as knowledge, property, etc. Diligence denotes earnest application to some specific object or pursuit, which more or less directly has a strong hold on one's interests or feelings. A man may be diligent for a time, or in seeking some favorite end, without meriting the title of industrious. Such was the case with Fox, while Burke was eminent not only for diligence, but industry; he was always at work, and always looking out for some new field of mental effort.
The sweat of industry would dry and die,
But for the end it works to.
Shak.
Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which an historical writer ascribe to himself.
Gibbon.
||Di`li*gence" (?), n. [F.] A four-wheeled public stagecoach, used in France.
Dil"i*gen*cy (?), n. [L. diligentia.] Diligence; care; persevering endeavor. [Obs.] Milton.
Dil"i*gent (?), a. [F. diligent, L. diligens, -entis, p. pr. of diligere, dilectum, to esteem highly, prefer; di- = dis- + legere to choose. See Legend.] 1. Prosecuted with careful attention and effort; careful; painstaking; not careless or negligent.
The judges shall make diligent inquisition.
Deut. xix. 18.
2. Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious.
Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings.
Prov. xxii. 29.
Diligent cultivation of elegant literature.
Prescott.
Syn. -- Active; assiduous; sedulous; laborious; persevering; attentive; industrious.
Dil"i*gent*ly, adv. In a diligent manner; not carelessly; not negligently; with industry or assiduity.
Ye diligently keep commandments of the Lord your God.
Deut. vi. 17.
Dill (dl), n. [AS dile; akin to D. dille, OHG. tilli, G. dill, dille, Sw. dill, Dan. dild.] (Bot.) An herb (Peucedanum graveolens), the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, and were formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; -- called also dillseed. Dr. Prior.
Dill, v. t. [OE. dillen, fr. dul dull, a.] To still; to calm; to soothe, as one in pain. [Obs.]