Part 80

DELEGATE, del'e-g[=a]t, _v.t._ to send as a legate or representative: to entrust or commit to.--_n._ one who is delegated: a deputy or representative: (_U.S._) a person elected to represent a territory in congress, as distinguished from the representatives of the States.--_adj._ delegated, deputed.--_ns._ DELEG[=A]'TION, DEL'EGACY, a delegating: the persons delegated. [L. _de_, away, and _legare_, _-[=a]tum_, to send as ambassador.]

DELETE, de-l[=e]t', _v.t._ to blot out: to erase: to destroy.--_n.pl._ DELEN'DA, things to be deleted or erased.--_n._ DEL[=E]'TION.--_adjs._ DEL[=E]'TIVE, DEL[=E]'TORY. [L. _del[=e]re_, _del[=e]tum_, to blot out.]

DELETERIOUS, del-e-t[=e]'ri-us, _adj._ tending to destroy life: hurtful or destructive: poisonous.--_adv._ DELET[=E]'RIOUSLY.--_n._ DELET[=E]'RIOUSNESS. [Gr. _d[=e]l[=e]t[=e]rios_, hurtful--_deleisthai_, to hurt.]

DELF, delf, _n._ a contraction for DELFT'WARE, a kind of earthenware originally made at _Delft_, Holland.

DELF, delf, _n._ a drain, ditch: (_her._) a charge representing a square sod. [A.S. _dælf_--_delfan_, to dig.]

DELIAN, d[=e]'li-an, _adj._ pertaining to _Delos_ in the Ægean Sea, birthplace of Apollo and Artemis.

DELIBATE, del'i-b[=a]t, _v.t._ (_obs._) to sip.--_n._ DELIB[=A]'TION.

DELIBERATE, de-lib'[.e]r-[=a]t, _v.t._ to weigh well in one's mind.--_v.i._ to consider the reasons for and against anything: to reflect: to consider.--_adj._ well considered: considering carefully: slow in determining: cautious.--_adv._ DELIB'ERATELY.--_ns._ DELIB'ERATENESS; DELIBER[=A]'TION, the act of deliberating: mature reflection: calmness: coolness.--_adj._ DELIB'ERATIVE, proceeding or acting by deliberation.--_adv._ DELIB'ERATIVELY. [L. _deliber[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_de_, inten., and _libr[=a]re_, to weigh--_libra_, a balance.]

DELICATE, del'i-k[=a]t, _adj._ pleasing to the senses, esp. the taste: dainty: nicely discriminating or perceptive: of a fine, slight texture or constitution: tender: frail, not robust: requiring nice handling: refined in manners: gentle, polite, considerate: luxurious.--_n._ DEL'ICACY, state or quality of being delicate: refinement: nicety: tenderness, weakness: luxuriousness: anything delicate or dainty.--_adv._ DEL'ICATELY, in a delicate manner: (_B._) luxuriously.--_n._ DEL'ICATENESS, state of being delicate: (_B._) delicacy, luxury.--_n.pl._ DEL'ICATES (_B._), delicacies. [L. _delic[=a]tus_--_deliciæ_, allurements, luxury--_delic[)e]re_--_de_, inten., _lac[)e]re_, to entice.]

DELICE, del'is, _n._ (_Spens._) flower delice, the iris. [See FLEUR-DE-LIS.]

DELICIOUS, de-lish'us, _adj._ full of delicacies: highly pleasing to the senses: affording exquisite pleasure.--_n._ DEL'ICE, (_Spens._), delight: a delight or delightful thing.--_adv._ DELI'CIOUSLY, in a delicious manner: (_B._) luxuriously.--_n._ DELI'CIOUSNESS. [L. _deliciosus_--_deliciæ_.]

DELICT, de-likt', _n._ a transgression, a misdemeanour. [L. _delictum_, an offence--_de_, and _linqu[)e]re_, to leave.]

DELIGATION, del-i-g[=a]'shun, _n._ a binding up, ligature.

DELIGHT, de-l[=i]t', _v.t._ to please highly.--_v.i._ to have or take great pleasure: to be greatly pleased.--_n._ a high degree of pleasure: extreme satisfaction: that which gives great pleasure.--_p.adj._ DELIGHT'ED, greatly pleased: (_Shak._) delightful.--_adjs._ DELIGHT'FUL, DELIGHT'SOME, full of delight.--_adv._ DELIGHT'FULLY.--_n._ DELIGHT'FULNESS.--_adj._ DELIGHT'LESS, affording no delight. [O. Fr. _deliter_--L. _delect[=a]re_, inten. of _delic[)e]re_.]

DELILAH, d[=e]-l[=i]'la, _n._ the Philistine woman who befooled Samson: a courtesan who seduces a man to betray secrets: a light woman, strumpet.--Also DAL[=I]'LA.

DELIMIT, de-lim'it, _v.t._ to fix or mark the limit of.--_n._ DELIMIT[=A]'TION.

DELINEATE, de-lin'e-[=a]t, _v.t._ to mark out with lines: to represent by a sketch or picture: to portray: to describe accurately in words.--_adj._ DELIN'EABLE.--_ns._ DELINE[=A]'TION, the act of delineating: a sketch, representation, or description (sometimes DELIN'EAMENT); DELIN'EATOR. [L. _deline[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_de_, down, and _linea_, a line.]

DELINQUENT, de-ling'kwent, _adj._ failing in duty.--_n._ one who fails in or leaves his duty: a transgressor: a criminal.--_n._ DELIN'QUENCY, failure in or omission of duty: a fault: a crime.--_adv._ DELIN'QUENTLY. [L. _delinquens_, _-entis_, pr.p. of _delinqu[)e]re_--_de_, inten., and _linqu[)e]re_, to leave.]

DELIQUESCE, del-i-kwes', _v.i._ to melt and become liquid by absorbing moisture, as certain salts, &c.--_v.i._ and _v.t._ DEL'IQUATE, DELIQ'UIATE, to melt.--_ns._ DELIQUES'CENCE, DELIQUI[=A]'TION.--_adj._ DELIQUES'CENT, liquefying in the air. [L. _deliquesc[)e]re_--_de_, inten., _liquesc[)e]re_, to become fluid--_liqu[=e]re_, to be fluid.]

DELIQUIUM, de-lik'wi-um, _n._ liquefaction by absorption of moisture. [Fr.,--Low L. _deliquium_--L. _de_, down, and _liqu[=e]re_, to melt.]

DELIRIOUS, de-lir'i-us, _adj._ wandering in mind: light-headed: insane.--_n._ DELIR[=A]'TION, madness, an aberration.--_adj._ DELIRIF[=A]'CIENT, producing delirium.--_n._ any substance with this quality.--_adv._ DELIR'IOUSLY.--_ns._ DELIR'IOUSNESS; DELIR'IUM, state of being delirious: strong excitement: wild enthusiasm.--DELIRIUM TREMENS, a delirious disorder of the brain produced by excessive drinking, and often marked by convulsive or trembling symptoms. [L. _delirus_, crazy--_de_, from, and _lira_, a furrow; _tremens_, the pr.p. of _trem[)e]re_, to tremble.]

DELITESCENT, del-i-tes'ent, _adj._ lying hid or concealed--e.g. the germs of an infectious disease.--_n._ DELITES'CENCE. [L. _delitescens_, pr.p. of _delitesc[)e]re_--_de_, from, and _latesc[)e]re_--_lat[=e]re_, to lie hid.]

DELIVER, de-liv'[.e]r, _v.t._ to liberate or set free from restraint or danger: to rescue from evil or fear: to give up or part with: to communicate: to pronounce: to give forth, as a blow, a ball, &c.: to disburden a woman of a child in childbirth.--_adj._ DELIV'ERABLE.--_ns._ DELIV'ERANCE, act of delivering or freeing: act of transferring from one to another: parturition: the utterance of a judgment or authoritative opinion; DELIV'ERER; DELIV'ERY, the act of delivering: a giving up: the act or manner of speaking in public, of discharging a shot, of throwing a cricket-ball, of pouring water, &c.: the act of giving birth.--GENERAL DELIVERY, the delivery of letters from a post-office window to the persons to whom they are addressed--opp. to house to house delivery; GAOL, or JAIL, DELIVERY (see GAOL). [Fr. _délivrer_--L. _de_, from, _liber[=a]re_, to set free--_liber_, free.]

DELIVERLY, de-liv'[.e]r-li, _adv._ (_Shak._) nimble manner. [O. Fr. _delivre_, free--L. _de_, and _liber_, free.]

DELL. See DALE.

DELLA-CRUSCAN, del-la-krus'kan, _adj._ belonging to, or resembling, the old Florentine Accademia _della Crusca_ (1582), esp. of a group of sentimental English poetasters resident in Florence about 1784--crushed by Gifford's _Baviad_ in 1794.

DELLA-ROBBIA, del-la-rob'ya, _n._ a term applied to enamelled terra-cotta, said to have been invented by Luca _della Robbia_.

DELPH, an erroneous spelling of DELF.

DELPHIAN, del'fi-an, _adj._ relating to _Delphi_, a town of ancient Greece, or to the famous oracle which was there.--Also DEL'PHIC.

DELPHIN, del'fin, _adj._ pertaining to the _dauphin_ of France, or to an edition of the Latin classics prepared for his use, 64 vols., 1674-1730.

DELPHINIDÆ, del-fin'i-d[=e], _n._ a family of cetaceans, including dolphins, grampuses, &c. [L. _delphinus_, a dolphin.]

DELPHINIUM, del-fin'i-um, _n._ a genus of _Ranunculaceæ_ comprising the larkspurs and stavesacre. [Formed from Gr. _delphinion_, larkspur.]

DELTA, del'ta, _n._ the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, the capital form of which is [Delta]: a tract of land of like shape formed at the mouth of a river.--_n._ DELTAFIC[=A]'TION, the process of forming a delta.--_adj._ DEL'TOID, of the form of the Greek [Delta]: triangular.--DELTA METAL, a hard alloy of copper, zinc, and iron--the three metals symbolised by the triangular shape; DELTOID MUSCLE, the large triangular muscle of the shoulder. [Gr.,--Heb. _daleth_, a tent-door.]

DELUBRUM, de-l[=u]'brum, _n._ a temple, shrine, sanctuary: a church having a font, a fort. [L.]

DELUCE. See FLEUR-DE-LIS.

DELUDE, de-l[=u]d', _v.t._ to play or impose upon: to deceive.--_adj._ DELUD'ABLE.--_n._ DELUD'ER. [L. _delud[)e]re_, to play--_de_, down, _lud[)e]re_, _lusum_, to play.]

DELUGE, del'[=u]j, _n._ a great overflow of water: a flood: esp. that in the days of Noah.--_v.t._ to inundate: to overwhelm as with water. [Fr.,--L. _diluvium_--_dilu[)e]re_--_dis_, away, _lu[)e]re_, to wash.]

DELUNDUNG, de-lun'dung, _n._ the weasel-cat of Java and Malacca, a small carnivore akin to the civet.

DELUSION, de-l[=u]'zhun, _n._ the act of deluding: the state of being deluded: a false belief: error.--_adj._ DEL[=U]'SIONAL, pertaining to delusions, afflicted with such.--_n._ DEL[=U]'SIONIST.--_adjs._ DEL[=U]'SIVE, DEL[=U]'SORY, apt or tending to delude: deceptive.--_adv._ DEL[=U]'SIVELY.--_n._ DEL[=U]'SIVENESS. [See DELUDE.]

DELVE, delv, _v.t._ and _v.i._ to dig with a spade.--_n._ (_Spens._) a place dug out, a ditch, a cave.--_n._ DELV'ER. [A.S. _delfan_, to dig; conn. with _dale_, _dell_.]

DEMAGNETISE, de-mag'net-[=i]z, _v.t._ to deprive of magnetic power.--_n._ DEMAGNETIS[=A]'TION.

DEMAGOGUE, dem'a-gog, _n._ a leader of the people: a popular and factious orator.--_adjs._ DEMAGOGIC, -AL (-goj').--_ns._ DEMAGOGISM, DEMAGOGUISM (dem'a-gog-ism); DEM'AGOGUERY, DEMAGOGY (-goj'). [Fr.,--Gr. _d[=e]mog[=o]gos_--_d[=e]mos_, the people, _agogos_, leading--_agein_, to lead.]

DEMAIN. See DEMESNE.

DEMAND, d[=e]-mand', _v.t._ to claim: to ask earnestly or authoritatively: to call for: to question.--_n._ the asking for what is due: an asking for with authority: a claim: earnest inquiry.--_adj._ DEMAND'ABLE, that may be demanded.--_n._ DEMAND'ANT, one who demands: a plaintiff:--_fem._ DEMAND'RESS.--IN GREAT DEMAND, much sought after. [Fr.,--Low L. _demand[=a]re_, to demand--L. _de_, from, and _mand[=a]re_, to put into one's charge.]

DEMARCATION, DEMARKATION, de-mark-[=a]'shun, _n._ the act of marking off or setting bounds to: division: a fixed limit.--_v.t._ DEMAR'CATE, to mark off or limit. [Fr.,--_dé_, off, and _marquer_, to mark. See MARK.]

DEMATERIALISE, d[=e]-ma-t[=e]'ri-al-[=i]z, _v.t._ to deprive of material qualities.

DEME, d[=e]m, _n._ a subdivision of ancient Attica and of modern Greece, a township: (_biol._) any differentiated aggregate of cells. [Gr. _d[=e]mos_.]

DEMEAN, de-m[=e]n', _v.t._ to conduct (with _self_): to behave.--_n._ DEMEANOUR, conduct--(_Spens._) DEMAYNE, DEMEASNURE. [O. Fr. _demener_--_de_, inten., and _mener_, to lead--Low L. _min[=a]re_, to drive cattle, L. _min[=a]ri_, to threaten.]

DEMEAN, de-m[=e]n', _v.t._ to make mean: to lower. [More prob. on the analogy of _debase_, from _de_, and _mean_, low, than the same word as the preceding with specialised sense.]

DEMENT, de-ment', _v.t._ to drive crazy, render insane.--_adj._ insane, demented.--_n._ a demented person.--_v.t._ DEMENT'[=A]TE, to dement.--_p.adj._ DEMENT'ED, out of one's mind: insane: suffering from dementia. [L. _demens_, _dementis_, out of one's mind--_de_, from, and _mens_, the mind.]

DÉMENTI, d[=a]-mong-t[=e], _n._ a contradiction. [Fr. _démentir_, to give the lie to.]

DEMENTIA, de-men'shi-a, _n._ general mental enfeeblement, with loss of memory, reason, feeling, and will: often the consequence of acute mania. [L. _de_, neg., and _mens_, _mentis_, mind.]

DEMERIT, de-mer'it, _n._ ill-desert: fault: crime. [O. Fr. _demerite_, desert, also a fault--Low L. _demeritum_, a fault, _demer[=e]re_, to deserve--L. _de_, fully, _mer[=e]re_, to deserve.]

DEMERSED, d[=e]-merst', _adj._ (_bot._) growing under water.--_n._ DEMER'SION.

DEMESMERISE, de-mes'mer-[=i]z, _v.t._ to relieve from mesmeric influence.--_n._ DEMESMERIS[=A]'TION.

DEMESNE, de-m[=e]n', DEMAIN, de-m[=a]n', _n._ a manor-house, with lands adjacent to it not let out to tenants: any estate in land. [Forms of _domain_.]

DEMI-BASTION, dem'i-bast'yun, _n._ a kind of half-bastion, consisting of one face and one flank. [Fr. _demi_--L. _dimidius_, half, and _bastion_.]

DEMI-CADENCE, dem'i-k[=a]'dens, _n._ (_mus._) a half-cadence.

DEMI-CANNON, dem'i-kan'un, _n._ (_Shak._) an old gun which threw a ball of from 30 to 36 lbs.

DEMI-CULVERIN, dem'i-cul've-rin, _n._ an old kind of cannon which threw a shot of 9 or 10 lbs.

DEMI-DEIFY, dem'i-d[=e]'i-f[=i], _v.t._ to treat as a demi-god.

DEMI-DEVIL, dem'i-dev'il, _n._ a half-devil.

DEMI-DISTANCE, dem'i-dis'tans, _n._ (_fort._) the distance between the outward polygons and the flank.

DEMI-DITONE, dem'i-d[=i]-t[=o]n, _n._ (_mus._) a minor third.

DEMIGOD, dem'i-god, _n._ half a god: one whose nature is partly divine, esp. a hero fabled to be the offspring of a god and a mortal:--_fem._ DEM'I-GODD'ESS. [Fr. _demi_, half, and _god_.]

DEMI-GORGE, dem'i-gorj, _n._ (_fort._) the part of the polygon remaining after the flank is raised, going from the curtain to the angle of the polygon.

DEMI-JOHN, dem'i-jon, _n._ a glass bottle with a full body and narrow neck, enclosed in wicker-work. [Fr. _dame-jeanne_, Dame Jane, analogous to _Bellarmine_, _gray-beard_. Not from the town _Damaghan_.]

DEMI-LANCE, dem'i-lans, _n._ a short, light spear of the 16th century; a soldier armed with such a weapon.

DEMI-LUNE, dem'i-l[=oo]n, _n._ (_fort._) a half-moon: an old name for _Ravelin_. [L. _demi_, half, and Fr. _lune_--L. _luna_, the moon.]

DEMI-MONDE, dem'i-mond, _n._ women in an equivocal position, kept women: the prostitute class generally.

DEMIREP, dem'i-rep, _n._ a woman of dubious reputation.--_n._ DEM'IREPDOM, shady women collectively. [Said to be a contraction of _demi-reputation_.]

DEMISE, d[=e]-m[=i]z', _n._ a transferring: death, esp. of a sovereign or a distinguished person: a transfer of the crown or of an estate to a successor.--_v.t._ to send down to a successor: to bequeath by will.--_adj._ DEM[=I]'SABLE. [O. Fr. _demise_, pa.p. of _desmettre_, to lay down--L. _dimitt[)e]re_, to send away--L. _dis_, aside, and _mitt[)e]re_, _missum_, to send.]

DEMI-SEMIQUAVER, dem'i-sem'i-kw[=a]-v[.e]r, _n._ (_mus._) a note equal in time to the half of a semiquaver. [Fr. _demi_, half, and _semiquaver_.]

DEMISS, de-mis', _adj._ (_Spens._) humble. [L. _demissus_, pa.p. of _demitt[)e]re_. See DEMISE.]

DEMISSION, de-mish'un, _n._ a lowering: degradation: depression: relinquishment: resignation.--_adj._ DEMISS'IVE (_obs._), humble.--_adv._ DEMISS'LY. [L. _demission-em_. See DEMISE.]

DEMIT, de-mit', _v.t._ to dismiss: to relinquish: to resign. [See DEMISE.]

DEMIURGE, dem'i-urj, _n._ the maker of the world: among the Gnostics, the creator of the world and of man, subordinate to God the supreme--also DEMIUR'GUS.--_adj._ DEMIUR'GIC. [Gr. _d[=e]miourgos_--_d[=e]mos_, the people, and _ergon_, a work.]

DEMI-VOLT, dem'i-volt, _n._ a half-turn of a horse, the forelegs being raised in the air. [Fr. _demi-volte_--_demi_, half, and _volte_, a leap. See VAULT.]

DEMI-WOLF, dem'i-woolf, _n._ (_Shak._) a half-wolf, the offspring of a dog and a wolf.

DEMOBILISE, de-mob'il-[=i]z, _v.t._ to take out of mobilisation: to disband.--_n._ DEMOBILIS[=A]'TION. [Fr.]

DEMOCRACY, de-mok'ra-si, _n._ a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people collectively, and is administered by them or by officers appointed by them: the people, esp. the common people in the United States, the democratic party--also DEMOC'RATY (_Milt._).--_n._ DEM'OCRAT, one who adheres to or promotes democracy as a principle: a member of the democratic party in the United States, who preserve carefully the local liberties of states and of individuals, opposing national centralisation, and supporting a wide franchise, low tariff duties for the interests of the revenue rather than protection, and a limited public expenditure.--_adjs._ DEMOCRAT'IC, -AL, relating to democracy: insisting on equal rights and privileges for all.--_adv._ DEMOCRAT'ICALLY.--_adj._ DEMOCRATIF[=I]'ABLE, capable of being made democratic.--_v.t._ DEMOCRATISE', to render democratic.--_n._ DEMOC'RATIST, a democrat. [O. Fr.,--Gr. _d[=e]mokratia_--_d[=e]mos_, the people, and _kratein_, to rule--_kratos_, strength.]

DEMOGORGON, d[=e]-mo-gor'gon, _n._ a mysterious deity or diabolical magician first mentioned about 450 A.D., and regarded as an object of terror. [Gr. _daim[=o]n_, deity, _gorgos_, terrible.]

DEMOGRAPHY, d[=e]-mog'ra-fi, _n._ vital and social statistics, as applied to the study of nations and races.--_n._ DEMOG'RAPHER.--_adj._ DEMOGRAPH'IC. [Gr. _d[=e]mos_, the people, _graphein_, to write.]

DEMOISELLE, dem-wa-zel', _n._ (_Shak._) a young lady: a crane-like bird of peculiarly graceful form. [Fr. See DAMSEL.]

DEMOLISH, de-mol'ish, _v.t._ to destroy, lay in ruins, to ruin.--_n._ DEMOLI'TION, act of pulling down: ruin. [Fr. _démolir_--L. _demol[=i]ri_, to throw down--_de_, down, and _mol[=i]ri_, to build--_moles_, a heap.]

DEMOLOGY, de-mol'o-j[=i], _n._ same as DEMOGRAPHY: the theory of the origin and development of nations. [Gr. _d[=e]mos_, the people, _logia_, a discourse.]

DEMON, d[=e]'mon, _n._ an evil spirit, a devil: sometimes like DÆMON, a friendly spirit or good genius:--_fem._ D[=E]'MONESS.--_adjs._ DEM[=O]'NIAC, DEM[=O]N[=I]'ACAL, pertaining to or like demons or evil spirits: influenced by demons.--_ns._ DEM[=O]'NIAC, a human being possessed by a demon or evil spirit.--_adv._ DEMON[=I]'ACALLY.--_n._ DEMON[=I]'ACISM, state of being a demoniac.--_adj._ DEM[=O]'NIAN (_Milt._).--_ns._ DEM[=O]'NIANISM, DEM[=O]'NIASM, possession by a demon.--_v.t._ D[=E]'MONISE, to convert into a demon: to control or possess by a demon.--_ns._ D[=E]'MONISM, a belief in demons; D[=E]'MONIST, a believer in demons; DEMONOC'RACY, the power of demons; DEMONOL'ATRY, the worship of demons; DEMONOL'ATER, one who worships such; DEMONOLOGY, an account of, or the study of, demons and their agency.--_adjs._ DEMONOLOG'IC, -AL.--_ns._ DEMONOL'OGIST, a writer on demonology; DEMONOM[=A]'NIA, a form of mania in which the subject believes himself possessed by devils; DEMON'OMY, the dominion of demons; D[=E]'MONRY, demoniacal influence. [L. _dæmon_--Gr. _daim[=o]n_, a spirit, genius; in N. T. and Late Greek, a devil.]

DEMONETISE, d[=e]-mon'e-t[=i]z, _n._ to divest of value as money.--_n._ DEMONETIS[=A]'TION.

DEMONSTRATE, de-mon'str[=a]t, _v.t._ to show or point out clearly: to prove with certainty.--_adj._ DEMON'STRABLE, that may be demonstrated.--_ns._ DEMON'STRABLENESS, DEMONSTRABIL'ITY.--_adv._ DEMON'STRABLY.--_ns._ DEMONSTR[=A]'TION, a pointing out: proof beyond doubt: expression of the feelings by outward signs: expression of sympathy with political or social opinions, with a man or body of men, by a mass-meeting, a procession, &c.: show: a movement of troops or ships to exhibit military intention, or in war to deceive the enemy.--_adj._ DEMON'STRATIVE, making evident: proving with certainty: of the nature of proof: given to the manifestation of one's feelings.--_adv._ DEMON'STRATIVELY.--_ns._ DEMON'STRATIVENESS; DEM'ONSTRATOR, one who proves beyond doubt: one who teaches: (_anat._) one who teaches anatomy from the dissected parts.--_adj._ DEMON'STRATORY, demonstrative. [L. _demonstr[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_--_de_, inten., and _monstr[=a]re_, to show.]

DEMORALISE, de-mor'al-[=i]z, _v.t._ to corrupt in morals: to lower the _morale_--that is, to deprive of spirit and confidence: to throw into confusion.--_n._ DEMORALIS[=A]'TION, act of demoralising: corruption or subversion of morals.--_p.adj._ DEMORAL[=I]S'ING.

DEMOS, d[=e]'mos, _n._ the people, esp. the lower classes.--_adj._ DEMOT'IC, pertaining to the people: popular: in Egypt. ant., of a kind of writing distinguished from the hieratic, or priestly, and from hieroglyphics. [Gr.]

DEMOSTHENIC, de-mos-then'ik, _adj._ of or like _Demosthenes_, the Athenian orator: eloquent.

DEMPSTER. Same as DEEMSTER (q.v. under DEEM).

DEMPT, demt (_Spens._). _Pa.p._ of DEEM.

DEMULCENT, de-mul'sent, _adj._ soothing. [L. _demulcent-em_--_de_, and _mulc[=e]re_, to stroke, to soothe.]

DEMUR, de-mur', _v.i._ to hesitate from uncertainty or before difficulty: to object:--_pr.p._ demur'ring; _pa.p._ demurred'.--_n._ a stop: pause, hesitation.--_adj._ DEMUR'RABLE.--_ns._ DEMUR'RAGE, an allowance made for undue delay or detention of a vessel in port: compensation paid by the freighter to the owner of the same: allowance for undue detention of railway-wagons, &c.; DEMUR'RER, one who demurs: (_law_) a plea in law that, even if the opponent's facts are as he says, they yet do not support his case. [Fr. _demeurer_--L. _demor[=a]ri_, to loiter, linger--_de_, inten., and _mor[=a]ri_, to delay--_mora_, delay.]

DEMURE, de-m[=u]r', _adj._ sober: staid: modest: affectedly modest: making a show of gravity.--_adv._ DEMURE'LY.--_n._ DEMURE'NESS. [O. Fr. _de (bons) murs_, of good manners--L. _de_, of, _mores_, manners.]

DEMY, de-m[=i]', _n._ a size of paper 22½ by 17½ in.; in the United States 21 by 16 in. [Fr. _demi_--L. _dimidium_, half--_di_, apart, _medius_, the middle.]

DEMY, de-m[=i]', _n._ a holder of certain scholarships in Magdalen College, Oxford.--_n._ DEMY'SHIP. [Ety. same as above.]

DEN, den, _n._ the hollow lair of a wild beast: a kind of pit, a cave: a haunt of vice or misery: (_coll._) a private retreat for work: (_prov._) a narrow valley.--_v.i._ to retire to a den. [A.S. _denn_, a cave, and _denu_, a valley.]

DEN, den, _n._ (_obs._) for good-e'en, good-even.

DENARY, den'ar-i, _adj._ containing ten.--_n._ the number ten.--_n._ DEN[=A]'RIUS, the chief Roman silver coin under the Republic, divided into ten asses, and worth 9-2/5d. [L. _denarius_--_deni_--_decem_, ten.]

DENATIONALISE, de-nash'un-al-[=i]z, _v.t._ to deprive of national rights.--_n._ DENATIONALIS[=A]'TION.

DENATURALISE, de-nat'[=u]-ral-[=i]z, _v.t._ to make unnatural; to deprive of naturalisation.

DENAY, de-n[=a]', _obs._ form of DENY, DENIAL.

DENDRACHATE, den'dra-k[=a]t, _n._ arborescent agate.--MOSS'-AG'ATE. [Gr. _dendron_, tree, _achat[=e]s_, agate.]

DENDRIFORM, den'dri-form, _adj._ having the appearance of a tree. [Formed from Gr. _dendron_, a tree, and L. _forma_, form.]

DENDRITE, den'dr[=i]t, _n._ a mineral in which are figures resembling plants.--_adjs._ DENDRIT'IC, -AL, tree-like, arborescent: marked with branching figures like plants. [Gr. _dendrit[=e]s_, of a tree--_dendron_, a tree.]

DENDRODONT, den'dr[=o]-dont, _n._ a fish of extinct fossil genus _Dendrodus_, having teeth of dendritic structure.--_adj._ having such teeth.--_n._ DENDRODEN'TINE, the form of branched dentine seen in compound teeth, produced by the interblending of the dentine, enamel, and cement. [Gr. _dendron_, a tree, and _odous_, _odontos_, tooth.]

DENDROID, den'droid, _adj._ having the form of a tree. [Gr. _dendron_, a tree, and _eidos_, form.]

DENDROLITE, den'dro-l[=i]t, _n._ a petrified or fossil plant. [Gr. _dendron_, a tree, and _lithos_, a stone.]

DENDROLOGY, den-drol'o-ji, _n._ a treatise on trees: the natural history of trees.--_adj._ DENDROLOG'ICAL.--_n._ DENDROL'OGIST. [Gr. _dendron_, a tree, and _logia_, a discourse.]

DENDROMETER, d[.e]n-drom'e-t[.e]r, _n._ an instrument for ascertaining the height of a tree. [Gr. _dendron_, tree, _metron_, measure.]

DENE, d[=e]n, _n._ a small valley.--_n._ DENE'-HOLE, an ancient artificial excavation in the chalk formations of Kent and Essex. [A form of _dean_. Cf. DEN.]

DENEGATION, d[=e]-ne-g[=a]'shun, _n._ denial. [L. _deneg[=a]re_, _-[=a]tum_, to deny--_de_, inten., and _neg[=a]re_, to deny.]

DENGUE, deng'g[=a], _n._ an acute tropical epidemic fever, seldom fatal--also _breakbone-fever_, _dandy-fever_. [The Spanish _dengue_, refusing, prudery, from L. _deneg[=a]re_, to deny, seems to have been confused with _dandy-fever_.]