DITAL, dit'al, _n._ a digital key for raising the pitch of a guitar a
semitone. [It.,--L. _digitus_, a finger.]
DITCH, dich, _n._ a trench dug in the ground: any long narrow receptacle
for water.--_v.i._ to make a ditch or ditches.--_v.t._ to dig a ditch in or
around: to drain by ditches.--_ns._ DITCH'-DOG (_Shak._), a dead dog
rotting in a ditch; DITCH'ER, a ditch-maker. [A corr. of _dike_.]
DITE, d[=i]t, _v.t._ (_Spens._). Same as DIGHT.
DITETRAGONAL, d[=i]-tet-rag'o-nal, _adj._ twice tetragonal.
DITETRAHEDRAL, d[=i]-tet-ra-h[=e]'dral, _adj._ twice tetrahedral.
DITHEISM, d[=i]'th[=e]-izm, _n._ the doctrine of the existence of two
supreme gods.--_n._ D[=I]'THEIST.--_adjs._ DITHEIST'IC, -AL. [Gr. _di-_,
two, and _theos_, a god.]
DITHYRAMB, dith'i-ram, _n._ an ancient Greek hymn sung in honour of
Bacchus: a short poem of a like character.--_adj._ DITHYRAM'BIC, of or like
a dithyramb: enthusiastic: wild and boisterous. [L.,--Gr. _dithyrambos_, a
hymn in honour of Bacchus.]
DITOKOUS, dit'[=o]-kus, _adj._ producing two at a birth. [Gr. _di-_, two,
_tiktein_, to bring forth.]
DITONE, d[=i]'t[=o]n, _n._ an interval containing two tones, a major third.
DITRICHOTOMOUS, d[=i]-tri-kot'[=o]-mus, _adj._ divided into twos and
threes.
DITRIGLYPH, d[=i]-tr[=i]'glif, _n._ a space for two triglyphs in the
entablature between columns.--_adj._ DITRIGLYPH'IC.
DITROCHEE, d[=i]-tr[=o]'k[=e], _n._ a trochaic dipody.--_adj._
DITR[=O]'CHEAN.
DITTANDER, di-tan'd[.e]r, _n._ pepperwort: dittany.
DITTANY, dit'a-ni, _n._ a genus of aromatic perennial plants, formerly much
used medicinally as a tonic. [O. Fr. _dictame_--L. _dictamnus_--Gr.
_diktamnos_; prob. from Mt. _Dikt[=e]_ in Crete.]
DITTAY, dit'[=a], _n._ (_Scots law_) an indictment, charge. [O. Fr.
_ditté_--L. _dict[=a]tum_. Cf. DITTY, DICTATE.]
DITTIED, dit'id, _adj._ (_Milt._) sung, as a ditty.
DITTO, dit'[=o], contracted DO., _n._ that which has been said: the same
thing.--_adv._ as before, or aforesaid: in like manner.--_n.pl._ DITT'OS, a
suit of clothes of the same colour throughout. [It. _ditto_--L. _dictum_,
said, pa.p. of _dic[)e]re_, to say.]
DITTOGRAPHY, di-tog'ra-fi, _n._ mechanical repetition of letters or words
in copying a manuscript. [Gr. _dittos_, double, _graphein_, to write.]
DITTOLOGY, di-tol'o-ji, _n._ a double reading. [Gr. _dittologia_--_dittos_,
double, _graphein_, to write.]
DITTY, dit'i, _n._ a song: a little poem to be sung. [O. Fr. _ditie_--L.
_dict[=a]tum_, neut. of _dict[=a]tus_, perf. part. of _dict[=a]re_, to
dictate.]
DITTY-BAG, dit'i-bag, _n._ a sailor's bag for needles, thread, &c.--Also
DITT'Y-BOX.
DIURETIC, d[=i]-[=u]-ret'ik, _adj._ promoting the discharge of urine.--_n._
a medicine causing this discharge.--_n._ DIUR[=E]'SIS, the excessive
discharge of urine. [Fr.,--Gr. _diour[=e]tikos_--_dia_, through, _ouron_,
urine.]
DIURNAL, d[=i]-ur'nal, _adj._ daily: relating to or performed in a
day.--_n._ a service-book containing the day hours, except matins (a
night-office): a diary, journal.--_n._ DIUR'NALIST, a journalist.--_adv._
DIUR'NALLY. [L. _diurn[=a]lis_--_dies_, a day. See JOURNAL.]
DIUTURNAL, d[=i]-[=u]-tur'nal, _adj._ lasting long.--_n._ DIUTUR'NITY.
DIV, d[=i]v, _n._ an evil spirit of Persian mythology.
DIVA, d[=i]'va, _n._ a popular female singer: a prima-donna. [It.,--L.
_diva_, fem. of _divus_, divine.]
DIVAGATION, d[=i]-va-g[=a]'shun, _n._ a digression, deviation.--_v.i._
D[=I]'VAGATE, to wander about.--_adv._ DIVAGUE'LY. [L. _divag[=a]ri_, to
wander.]
DIVAN, di-van', _n._ the Turkish council of state: a court of justice: used
poetically of any council or assembly: a council-chamber with cushioned
seats: a sofa: a smoking-room: a collection of poems. [Ar. and Pers.
_díwán_, a long seat.]
DIVARICATE, d[=i]-var'i-k[=a]t, _v.i._ to part into two branches, to fork:
to diverge.--_v.t._ to divide into two branches.--_adj._ widely divergent,
spreading apart.--_n._ DIVARIC[=A]'TION. [L. _divaric[=a]re_,
_-[=a]tum_--_dis_, asunder, _varic[=a]re_, to spread the legs--_varus_,
bent apart.]
DIVE, d[=i]v, _v.i._ to dip or plunge into water: to go headlong into a
recess, forest, &c.: to plunge or go deeply into any matter.--_n._ a plunge
into water: a swoop.--_n._ DIV'ER, one who dives: a pearl-diver: one who
works from a diving-bell or in a diving-dress beneath water: a bird expert
at diving--specifically, the genus diver or loon of northern seas--loosely,
auks, grebes, penguins, &c.: (_slang_) a pickpocket. [A.S. _dýfan_,
_dúfan_; Ice. _dýfa_. See DIP.]
DIVELLENT, d[=i]-vel'ent, _adj._ drawing asunder.
DIVELLICATE, d[=i]-vel'i-k[=a]t, _v.t._ to pull in pieces.
DIVERGE, di-v[.e]rj', _v.i._ to incline or turn apart: to tend from a
common point in different directions: to vary from the standard.--_ns._
DIVERGE'MENT; DIVERG'ENCE, DIVERG'ENCY, a tendency to recede from one
point.--_adj._ DIVERG'ENT.--_adv._ DIVERG'INGLY. [L. _dis_, asunder,
_verg[)e]re_, to incline.]
DIVERS, d[=i]'v[.e]rz, _adj._ sundry: several: more than one: (_B._) same
as DIVERSE. [See DIVERT.]
DIVERSE, d[=i]'v[.e]rs, or div-[.e]rs', _adj._ different: unlike:
multiform: various.--_adv._ D[=I]'VERSELY, or DIVERSE'LY.
DIVERSIFY, di-v[.e]r'si-f[=i], _v.t._ to make diverse or different: to give
variety to:--_pr.p._ diver'sifying; _pa.p._ diver'sified.--_adj._
DIVERSIF[=I]'ABLE.--_n._ DIVERSIFIC[=A]'TION.--_adj._ DIVER'SIFORM, of
diverse or various forms. [Fr.,--Low L. _diversific[=a]re_--_diversus_,
diverse, _fac[)e]re_, to make.]
DIVERSION, di-v[.e]r'shun, _n._ act of diverting or turning aside: that
which diverts: amusement, recreation: something done to turn the attention
of an enemy from the principal point of attack.
DIVERSITY, di-v[.e]r'si-ti, _n._ state of being diverse: difference:
unlikeness: variety.
DIVERT, di-v[.e]rt', _v.t._ to turn aside: to change the direction of: to
turn the mind from business or study: to amuse.--_n._ DIVERT'IMENTO
(_obs._), diversion: (_mus._) a ballet-interlude.--_adj._
DIVERT'ING.--_adv._ DIVERT'INGLY.--_n._ DIVERT'ISEMENT, diversion: a short
ballet between the acts of a play.--_adj._ DIVERT'IVE, tending to divert.
[Fr.,--L. _divert[)e]re_, _diversum_--_dis_, aside, _vert[)e]re_, to turn.]
DIVERTICLE, di-ver'ti-kl, _n._ (_anat._) a diverticulum, cæcum, or blind
tubular process.--_adjs._ DIVERTIC'ULAR, DIVERTIC'ULATED.
DIVES, d[=i]'v[=e]s (L. 'the rich man'), _n._ a name used as if a proper
name for the rich man at whose gate Lazarus lay (Luke, xvi. 19): a rich and
luxurious person.--_n._ DIV'ITISM, condition of being rich.
DIVEST, di-vest', _v.t._ to strip or deprive of anything.--_adj._
DIVEST'IBLE.--_ns._ DIVEST'ITURE, DIVEST'MENT (_rare_). [L.
_devest[=i]re_--_dis_, neg., _vest[=i]re_, to clothe--_vestis_, a garment.]
DIVIDE, di-v[=i]d', _v.t._ to part asunder: to part among, to allot, &c.:
to set at variance: to separate into two parts (as in voting).--_v.i._ to
part or open: to break friendship: to vote by separating into two
bodies.--_n._ (_coll._) the act of dividing: (esp. in _U.S._) a
watershed.--_adj._ DIVID'ABLE (_rare_), divisible: (_Shak._)
divided.--_adv._ DIVID'EDLY.--_n._ DIVID'ER, that which divides: a kind of
compasses for dividing lines, &c.--_adj._ DIVID'ING, separating.--_n._
separation.--_n._ DIVID'ING-EN'GINE, an instrument for graduating the
scales of scientific apparatus.--_adjs._ DIVID'UAL (_Milt._), shared in
common with others; DIVID'UOUS, special, accidental. [L. _divid[)e]re_,
_divisum_--_dis_, asunder, root _vid_, to separate.]
DIVIDEND, div'i-dend, _n._ that which is to be divided: the share of a sum
divided that falls to each individual, by way of interest or
otherwise.--DECLARE A DIVIDEND, to announce the sum per cent. a trading
concern is prepared to pay its shareholders. [L.
_dividendum_--_divid[)e]re_.]
DIVIDIVI, div'i-div-i, _n._ the curved pods of the leguminous tree,
_Cæsalpinia coriaria_, imported for tanning and dyeing. [Native name.]
DIVINE, di-v[=i]n', _adj._ belonging to or proceeding from God: devoted to
God's service: holy: sacred: excellent in the highest degree.--_n._ one
skilled in divine things: a minister of the gospel: a theologian.--_v.t._
to foresee or foretell as if divinely inspired: to guess or make
out.--_v.i._ to profess or practise divination: to have forebodings.--_ns._
DIVIN[=A]'TION, the act or practice of divining: instinctive prevision:
prediction: conjecture; DIV'IN[=A]TOR, DIV[=I]N'ER, one who divines or
professes divination: a conjecturer:--_fem._ DIVIN'ERESS.--_adjs._
DIVINAT[=O]'RIAL, DIVIN'A-TORY, relating to divination,
conjectural.--_adv._ DIVINE'LY.--_ns._ DIVINE'NESS; DIVIN'ING-ROD, a rod,
usually of hazel, used by those professing to discover water or metals
under ground.--_vs.t._ DIV'INISE, DIVIN'IFY, to treat as divine. [Fr.,--L.
_divinus_, from _divus_, _deus_, a god.]
DIVING, d[=i]v'ing, _n._ the action of the verb _to dive_.--_adj._ that
dives.
[Illustration]
DIVING-BELL, d[=i]v'ing-bel, _n._ a hollow vessel or chamber, originally
bell-shaped, open at the bottom and supplied with air by a tube from above,
in which one may descend into and work under water.--_n._ DIV'ING-DRESS,
the water-tight costume of a diver, with special provision for receiving
air, &c. [See DIVE.]
DIVINITY, di-vin'i-ti, _n._ godhead: the nature or essence of God: God: a
celestial being: any god: the science of divine things: theology.--DIVINITY
HALL (_Scot._), a theological college, or the theological department in a
university. [See DIVINE.]
DIVISION, di-vizh'un, _n._ act of dividing: state of being divided: that
which divides: a partition: a barrier: the portion divided or separated:
part of an army or military force: separation: difference in opinion, &c.:
disunion: (_arith._) the rule or process of finding how many times one
number is contained in another.--_n._ DIVISIBIL'ITY.--_adj._ DIVIS'IBLE,
capable of being divided or separated.--_adv._ DIVIS'IBLY.--_adjs._
DIVI'SIONAL, DIVI'SIONARY, pertaining to or marking a division or
separation; DIV[=I]S'IVE, forming division or separation: creating
discord.--_ns._ DIV[=I]S'IVENESS; DIVIS'OR (_arith._), the number which
divides the dividend.
DIVORCE, di-vors', _n._ the legal separation of husband and wife: the
sentence by which a marriage is dissolved.--_v.t._ to separate: to sunder:
to dissolve the marriage-contract of: to put away.--_adj._
DIVORCE'ABLE.--_ns._ DIVORCEE', a divorced person; DIVORCE'MENT (_B._),
divorce; DIVOR'CER.--_adj._ DIVOR'CIVE, having power to divorce. [Fr.,--L.
_divortium_--_divort[)e]re_, another form of _divert[)e]re_. See DIVERT.]
DIVOT, div'ot, _n._ (_Scot._) a piece of turf.--FEAL AND DIVOT (_Scots
law_), a right of cutting sods and turfs for certain purposes. [Origin
unknown.]