Chapter 389

Dark (?) , n. 1. Absence of light; darkness; obscurity; a place where there is little or no light.

Here stood he in the dark , his sharp sword out. Shak.

2. The condition of ignorance; gloom; secrecy.

Look, what you do, you do it still i' th' dark . Shak.

Till we perceive by our own understandings, we are as muc<?/ in the dark , and as void of knowledge, as before. Locke.

3. (Fine Arts) A dark shade or dark passage in a painting, engraving, or the like; as, the light and darks are well contrasted .

The lights may serve for a repose to the darks , and the darks to the lights. Dryden.

Dark <Xpage=367>

Dark , v. t. To darken to obscure. [Obs.]

Milton.

Darken <Xpage=367>

Dark"en (?) , v. t. [ Imp. & p. p. Darkened (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Darkening (?) .] [AS. deorcian . See Dark , a. ] 1. To make dark or black; to deprite of light; to obscure; as, a darkened room .

They [locusts] covered the face of the whole earth, so that the land was darkened . Ex. x. 15.

So spake the Sovran Voice; and clouds began To darken all the hill. Milton.

2. To render dim; to deprive of vision.

Let their eyes be darkened , that they may not see. Rom. xi. 10.

3. To cloud, obscure, or perplex; to render less clear or intelligible.

Such was his wisdom that his confidence did seldom darken his foresight. Bacon.

Who is this that darkeneth counsel by words without knowledge? Job. xxxviii. 2.

4. To cast a gloom upon.

With these forced thoughts, I prithee, darken not The mirth of the feast. Shak.

5. To make foul; to sully; to tarnish.

I must not think there are Evils enough to darken all his goodness. Shak.

Darken <Xpage=367>

Dark"en , v. i. To grow or darker.

Darkener <Xpage=367>

Dark"en*er (?) , n. One who, or that which, darkens.

Darkening <Xpage=367>

Dark"en*ing , n. Twilight; gloaming. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]

Wright.

Darkful <Xpage=367>

Dark"ful (?) , a. Full of darkness. [Obs.]

Darkish <Xpage=367>

Dark"ish (?) , a. Somewhat dark; dusky.

Darkle <Xpage=367>

Dar"kle (?) , v. i. [Freq. of dark .] To grow dark; to show indistinctly.

Thackeray.

Darkling <Xpage=367>

Dark"ling (?) , adv. [ Dark + the adverbial suffix -ling .] In the dark. [Poetic]

So, out went the candle, and we were left darkling . Shak.

As the wakeful bird Sings darkling . Milton.

Darkling <Xpage=367>

Dark"ling , p. pr. & a. 1. Becoming dark or gloomy; frowing.

His honest brows darkling as he looked towards me. Thackeray.

2. Dark; gloomy. "The darkling precipice."

Moore.

Darkly <Xpage=367>

Dark"ly , adv. 1. With imperfect light, clearness, or knowledge; obscurely; dimly; blindly; uncertainly.

What fame to future times conveys but darkly down. Dryden.

so softly dark and darkly pure. Byron.

2. With a dark, gloomy, cruel, or menacing look.

Looking darkly at the clerguman. Hawthorne.

Darkness <Xpage=367>

Dark"ness , n. 1. The absence of light; blackness; obscurity; gloom.

And darkness was upon the face of the deep. Gen. i. 2.

2. A state of privacy; secrecy.

What I tell you in darkness , that speak ye in light. Matt. x. 27.

3. A state of ignorance or error, especially on moral or religious subjects; hence, wickedness; impurity.

Men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. John. iii. 19.

Pursue these sons of darkness : drive them out From all heaven's bounds. Milton.

4. Want of clearness or perspicuity; obscurity; as, the darkness of a subject, or of a discussion .

5. A state of distress or trouble.

A day of clouds and of thick darkness . Joel. ii. 2.

Prince of darkness , the Devil; Satan. "In the power of the Prince of darkness ."

Locke.

Syn. -- Darkness , Dimness , Obscurity , Gloom . Darkness arises from a total, and dimness from a partial, want of light. A thing is obscure when so overclouded or covered as not to be easily perceived. As tha shade or obscurity increases, it deepens into gloom . What is dark is hidden from view; what is obscure is difficult to perceive or penetrate; the eye becomes dim with age; an impending storm fills the atmosphere with gloom . When taken figuratively, these words have a like use; as, the darkness of ignorance; dimness of discernment; obscurity of reasoning; gloom of superstition.

Darksome <Xpage=367>

Dark"some (?) , a. Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless. [Poetic]

He brought him through a darksome narrow pass To a broad gate, all built of beaten gold. Spenser.

Darky <Xpage=367>

Dark"y (?) , n. A negro. [Sleng]

Darling <Xpage=367>

Dar"ling (?) , n. [OE. derling , deorling , AS. de\'a2rling ; de\'a2re dear + -ling . See Dear , and -ling .] One dearly beloved; a favorite.

And can do naught but wail her darling's loss. Shak.

Darling <Xpage=367>

Dar"ling , a. Dearly beloved; regarded with especial kindness and tenderness; favorite. "Some darling science." I . Watts . " Darling sin." Macaulay .

Darlingtonia <Xpage=367>

Dar`ling*to"ni*a (?) , n. [NL. Named after Dr. William Darlington , a botanist of West Chester, Penn.] (Bot.) A genus of California pitcher plants consisting of a single species. The long tubular leaves are hooded at the top, and frequently contain many insects drowned in the secretion of the leaves.

Darn <Xpage=367>

Darn (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Darned (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Darning .] [OE. derne , prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. darnio to piece, break in pieces, W. & Arm. to E. tear . Cf. Tear , v. t. ] To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn or thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or thread.

He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in darning his stockins. Swift.

Darning last . See under Last . -- Darning needle . (a) A long, strong needle for mending holes or rents, especially in stockings. (b) (Zo\'94l.) Any species of dragon fly, having a long, cylindrical body, resembling a needle. These flies are harmless and without stings. [In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.] Called also devil's darning-needle .

Darn <Xpage=367>

Darn , n. A place mended by darning.

Darn <Xpage=367>

Darn , v. t. A colloquial euphemism for Damn .

Darnel <Xpage=367>

Dar"nel (?) , n. [OE. darnel , dernel , of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. darnelle , Sw. d\'86r-repe ; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. d\'86ra to infatuate, OD. door foolish, G. thor fool, and Ee. dizzy .] (Bot.) Any grass of the genus Lolium , esp. the Lolium temulentum (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as Lolium perenne (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety L. Italicum (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay.

&hand; Under darnel our early herbalists comprehended all kinds of cornfield weeds.

Dr. Prior.

Darner <Xpage=367>

Darn"er (?) , n. One who mends by darning.

Darnex, Darnic <Xpage=367>

Dar"nex (?) , Dar"nic (?) , n. Same as Dornick .

Daroo <Xpage=367>

Da*roo" , n. (Bot.) The Egyptian sycamore ( Ficus Sycamorus ). See Sycamore .

Darr <Xpage=367>

Darr (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The European black tern.

Darraign, Darrain <Xpage=367>

Dar"raign , Dar"rain , (?) , v. t. [OF. deraisnier to explain, defend, to maintain in legal action by proof and reasonings, LL. derationare ; de- + rationare to discourse, contend in law, fr. L. ratio reason, in LL., legal cause. Cf. Arraign , and see Reason .] 1. To make ready to fight; to array. [Obs.]

Darrain your battle, for they are at hand. Shak.

2. To fight out; to contest; to decide by combat. [Obs.] "To darrain the battle."

Chaucer .

Darrein <Xpage=367>

Dar"rein , a. [OF. darrein , darrain , fr. an assumed LL. deretranus ; L. de + retro back, backward.] (Law) Last; as, darrein continuance, the last continuance .

Dart <Xpage=367>

Dart (?) , n. [OF. dart , of German origin; cf. OHG. tart javelin, dart, AS. dara<?/ , daro<?/ , Sw. dart dagger, Icel. darra<?/r dart.] 1. A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a short lance; a javelin; hence, any sharp-pointed missile weapon, as an arrow.

And he [Joab] took three darts in his hand, and thrust them through the heart of Absalom. 2 Sa. xviii. 14.

2. Anything resembling a dart; anything that pierces or wounds like a dart.

The artful inquiry, whose venomed dart Scarce wounds the hearing while it stabs the heart. Hannan More.

3. A spear set as a prize in running. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

4. (Zo\'94l.) A fish; the dace. See Dace .

Dart sac (Zo\'94l.) , a sac connected with the reproductive organs of land snails, which contains a dart, or arrowlike structure.

Dart <Xpage=367>

Dart , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Darted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Darting .] 1. To throw with a sudden effort or thrust, as a dart or other missile weapon; to hurl or launch.

2. To throw suddenly or rapidly; to send forth; to emit; to shoot; as, the sun darts forth his beams .

Or what ill eyes malignant glances dart ? Pope.

Dart <Xpage=367>

Dart , v. i. 1. To fly or pass swiftly, as a dart.

2. To start and run with velocity; to shoot rapidly along; as, the deer darted from the thicket .

Dartars <Xpage=367>

Dar"tars (?) , n. [F. dartre eruption, dandruff. <?/240.] A kind of scab or ulceration on the skin of lambs.

Darter <Xpage=367>

Dart"er (?) , n. 1. One who darts, or who throw darts; that which darts.

2. (Zo\'94l.) The snakebird, a water bird of the genus Plotus ; -- so called because it darts out its long, snakelike neck at its prey. See Snakebird .

3. (Zo\'94l.) A small fresh-water etheostomoid fish. The group includes numerous genera and species, all of them American. See Etheostomoid .

Dartingly <Xpage=367>

Dart"ing*ly (?) , adv. Like a dart; rapidly.

Dartle <Xpage=367>

Dar"tle (?) , v. t. & i. To pierce or shoot through; to dart repeatedly: -- frequentative of dart .

My star that dartles the red and the blue. R. Browning.

Dartoic <Xpage=367>

Dar*to"ic (?) , a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the dartos.

Dartoid <Xpage=367>

Dar"toid (?) , a. [ Dartos + -oid .] (Anat.) Like the dartos; dartoic; as, dartoid tissue .

Dartos <Xpage=367>

Dar"tos (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ flayed.] (Anat.) A thin layer of peculiar contractile tissue directly beneath the skin of the scrotum.

Dartrous <Xpage=367>

Dar"trous (?) , a. [F. dartreux . See Dartars .] (Med.) Relating to, or partaking of the nature of, the disease called tetter; herpetic.

Dartroud diathesis , A morbid condition of the system predisposing to the development of certain skin deseases, such as eczema, psoriasis, and pityriasis. Also called rheumic diathesis , and hipretism .

Piffard.

Darwinian <Xpage=367>

Dar*win"i*an (?) , a. [From the name of Charles Darwin , an English scientist.] Pertaining to Darwin; as, the Darwinian theory, a theory of the manner and cause of the supposed development of living things from certain original forms or elements .

&hand; This theory was put forth by Darwin in 1859 in a work entitled "The Origin of species by Means of Natural Selection." The author argues that, in the struggle for existence, those plants and creatures best fitted to the requirements of the situation in which they are placed are the ones that will live; in other words, that Nature selects those which are survive. This is the theory of natural selection or the survival of the fillest . He also argues that natural selection is capable of modifying and producing organisms fit for their circumstances. See Development theory , under Development .

Darwinian <Xpage=367>

Dar*win"i*an , n. An advocate of Darwinism.

Darwinianism <Xpage=367>

Dar*win"i*an*ism (?) , n. Darwinism.

Darwinism <Xpage=367>

Dar"win*ism (?) , n. (Biol.) The theory or doctrines put forth by Darwin. See above.

Huxley.

Dase <Xpage=367>

Dase (?) , v. t. See Daze . [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Dasewe <Xpage=367>

Dase"we (?) , v. i. [OE. dasewen , daswen ; cf. AS. dysegian to be foolish.] To become dim-sighted; to become dazed or dazzled. [Obs.]

Chauscer.

Dash <Xpage=367>

Dash (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dashed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dashing .] [Of. Scand. origin; cf. Dan daske to beat, strike, Sw. & Icel. daska , Dan. & Sw. dask blow.] 1. To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; -- often used with against .

If you dash a stone against a stone in the botton of the water, it maketh a sound. Bacon.

2. To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin.

Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Ps. ii. 9.

A brave vessel, . . . Dashed all to pieces. Shak.

To perplex and dash Maturest counsels. Milton.

3. To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress.

South.

Dash the proud games<?/er in his gilded car. Pope.

4. To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture.

I take care to dash the character with such particular circumstance as may prevent ill-natured applications. Addison.

The very source and fount of day Is dashed with wandering isles of night. Tennyson.

5. To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; -- with off ; as, to dash off a review or sermon .

6. To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; -- with out ; as, to dash out a word .

Dash <Xpage=367>

Dash , v. i. To rust with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks .

[He] dashed through thick and thin. Dryden.

On each hand the gushing waters play, And down the rough cascade all dashing fall. Thomson.

Dash <Xpage=367>

Dash , n. 1. Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash.

2. A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash .

3. A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple.

Innocence when it has in it a dash of folly. Addison.

4. A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain.

She takes upon her bravely at first dash . Shak.

5. Energy in style or action; animation; spirit.

6. A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash . [Low]

7. (Punctuation) A mark or line [--], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis.

John Wilson.

8. (Mus.) (a) The sign of staccato, a small mark [<?/] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner . (b) The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a direction to raise the interval a semitone.

9. (Racing) A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; -- used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race.

Dashboard <Xpage=367>

Dash"board` (?) , n. 1. A board placed on the fore part of a carriage, sleigh, or other vechicle, to intercept water, mud, or snow, thrown up by the heels of the horses; -- in England commonly called splashboard .

2. (Naut.) (a) The float of a paddle wheel. (b) A screen at the bow af a steam launch to keep off the spray; -- called also sprayboard .

Dasher <Xpage=367>

Dash"er (?) , n. 1. That which dashes or agitates; as, the dasher of a churn .

2. A dashboard or splashboard. [U. S.]

3. One who makes an ostentatious parade. [Low]

Dashing <Xpage=367>

Dash"ing , a. Bold; spirited; showy.

The dashing and daring spirit is preferable to the listless. T. Campbell.

Dashingly <Xpage=367>

Dash"ing*ly , adv. Conspicuously; showily. [Colloq.]

A dashingly dressed gentleman. Hawthorne.

Dashism <Xpage=367>

Dash"ism (?) , n. The character of making ostentatious or blustering parade or show. [R. & Colloq.]

He must fight a duel before his claim to . . . dashism can be universally allowed. V. Knox.

Dashpot <Xpage=367>

Dash"pot` (?) , n. (Mach.) A pneumatic or hydraulic cushion for a falling weight, as in the valve gear of a steam engine, to prevent shock.