Chapter 427

Devonian age (Geol.) , the age next older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; -- called also the Age of fishes . The various strata of this age compose the Devonian formation or system , and include the old red sandstone of Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes of extinct groups. See the Diagram under Geology .

Devonian <Xpage=403>

De*vo"ni*an , n. The Devonian age or formation.

Devoration <Xpage=403>

Dev`o*ra"tion (?) , n. [L. devoratio . See Devour .] The act of devouring. [Obs.]

Holinshed.

Devotary <Xpage=403>

De*vo"ta*ry (?) , n. [See Devote , Votary .] A votary. [Obs.]

J. Gregory.

Devote <Xpage=403>

De*vote" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Devoted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Devoting .] [L. devotus , p. p. of devovere ; de + vovere to vow. See Vow , and cf. Devout , Devow .]

1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames.

No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . shall be sold or redeemed. Lev. xxvii. 28.

2. To execrate; to curse. [Obs.]

3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; -- often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc.

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Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear. Ps. cxix. 38.

They devoted themselves unto all wickedness. Grew.

A leafless and simple branch . . . devoted to the purpose of climbing. Gray.

Syn. -- To addict; apply; dedicate; consecrate; resign; destine; doom; consign. See Addict .

Devote <Xpage=404>

De*vote" (?) , a. [L. devotus , p. p.] Devoted; addicted; devout. [Obs.]

Milton.

Devote <Xpage=404>

De*vote" , n. A devotee. [Obs.]

Sir E. Sandys.

Devoted <Xpage=404>

De*vot"ed , a. Consecrated to a purpose; strongly attached; zealous; devout; as, a devoted admirer . -- De*vot"ed*ly , adv. -- De*vot"ed*ness , n.

Devotee <Xpage=404>

Dev`o*tee" (?) , n. One who is wholly devoted; esp., one given wholly to religion; one who is superstitiously given to religious duties and ceremonies; a bigot.

While Father Le Blanc was very devout he was not a devotee . A. S. Hardy.

Devotement <Xpage=404>

De*vote"ment (?) , n. The state of being devoted, or set apart by a vow. [R.]

Bp. Hurd.

Devoter <Xpage=404>

De*vot"er (?) , n. One who devotes; a worshiper.

Devotion <Xpage=404>

De*vo"tion (?) , n. [F. d\'82votion , L. devotio .]

1. The act of devoting; consecration.

2. The state of being devoted; addiction; eager inclination; strong attachment love or affection; zeal; especially, feelings toward God appropriately expressed by acts of worship; devoutness.

Genius animated by a fervent spirit of devotion . Macaulay.

3. Act of devotedness or devoutness; manifestation of strong attachment; act of worship; prayer. "The love of public devotion ."

Hooker.

4. Disposal; power of disposal. [Obs.]

They are entirely at our devotion , and may be turned backward and forward, as we please. Godwin.

5. A thing consecrated; an object of devotion. [R.]

Churches and altars, priests and all devotions , Tumbled together into rude chaos. Beau. & Fl.

Days of devotion . See under Day .

Syn. -- Consecration; devoutness; religiousness; piety; attachment; devotedness; ardor; earnestness.

Devotional <Xpage=404>

De*vo"tion*al (?) , a. [L. devotionalis .] Pertaining to, suited to, or used in, devotion; as, a devotional posture; devotional exercises; a devotional frame of mind.

Devotionalist, Devotionist <Xpage=404>

De*vo"tion*al*ist , De*vo"tion*ist , n. One given to devotion, esp. to excessive formal devotion.

Devotionality <Xpage=404>

De*vo`tion*al"i*ty (?) , n. The practice of a devotionalist.

A. H. Clough.

Devotionally <Xpage=404>

De*vo"tion*al*ly (?) , adv. In a devotional manner; toward devotion.

Devoto <Xpage=404>

De*vo"to (?) , n. [It.] A devotee.

Dr. J. Scott.

Devotor <Xpage=404>

De*vo"tor (?) , n. [L.] A worshiper; one given to devotion. [Obs.]

Beau. & Fl.

Devour <Xpage=404>

De*vour" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Devoured (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Devouring .] [F. d\'82vorer , fr. L. devorare ; de + vorare to eat greedily, swallow up. See Voracious .]

1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon.

Some evil beast hath devoured him. Gen. xxxvii. 20.

2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to annihilate.

Famine and pestilence shall devour him. Ezek. vii. 15.

I waste my life and do my days devour . Spenser.

3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses.

Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, Devour her o'er with vast delight. Dryden.

Syn. -- To consume; waste; destroy; annihilate.

Devourable <Xpage=404>

De*vour"a*ble (?) , a. That may be devoured.

Devourer <Xpage=404>

De*vour"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, devours.

Devouringly <Xpage=404>

De*vour"ing*ly , adv. In a devouring manner.

Devout <Xpage=404>

De*vout" (?) , a. [OE. devot , devout , F. d\'82vot , from L. devotus devoted, p. p. of devovere . See Devote , v. t. ]

1. Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious.

A devout man, and one that feared God. Acts x. 2.

We must be constant and devout in the worship of God. Rogers.

2. Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout ; sighs devout ; a devout posture.

Milton.

3. Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for one's welfare .

The devout , devoutly religious persons, those who are sincerely pious.

Syn. -- Holy; pure; religious; prayerful; pious; earnest; reverent; solemn; sincere.

Devout <Xpage=404>

De*vout" , n.

1. A devotee. [Obs.]

Sheldon.

2. A devotional composition, or part of a composition; devotion. [Obs.]

Milton.

Devoutful <Xpage=404>

De*vout"ful (?) , a.

1. Full of devotion. [R.]

2. Sacred. [R.]

To take her from austerer check of parents, To make her his by most devoutful rights. Marston.

Devoutless <Xpage=404>

De*vout"less , a. Destitute of devotion. -- De*vout"less*ly , adv. -- De*vout"less*ness , n.

Devoutly <Xpage=404>

De*vout"ly , adv.

1. In a devout and reverent manner; with devout emotions; piously.

Cast her fair eyes to heaven and prayed devoutly . Shak.

2. Sincerely; solemnly; earnestly.

'T is a consummation Devoutly to be wished. Shak.

Devoutness <Xpage=404>

De*vout"ness , n. Quality or state of being devout.

Devove <Xpage=404>

De*vove" (?) , v. t. [See Devote , v. t. ] To devote. [Obs.]

Cowley.

Devow <Xpage=404>

De*vow" (?) , v. t. [F. d\'82vouer , L. devovere . See Devote , v. t. ]

1. To give up; to devote. [Obs.]

2. [Cf. OF. desvoer . Cf. Disavow .] To disavow; to disclaim. [Obs.]

G. Fletcher.

Devulgarize <Xpage=404>

De*vul"gar*ize (?) , v. t. To free from what is vulgar, common, or narrow.

Shakespeare and Plutarch's "Lives" are very devulgarizing books. E. A. Abbott.

Dew <Xpage=404>

Dew (?) , n. [AS. de\'a0w ; akin to D. dauw , G. thau , tau , Icel. d\'94gg , Sw. dagg , Dan. dug ; cf. Skr. dhav , dh\'bev , to flow. <?/<?/<?/. Cf. Dag dew.]

1. Moisture from the atmosphere condensed by cool bodies upon their surfaces, particularly at night.

Her tears fell with the dews at even. Tennyson.

2. Figuratively, anything which falls lightly and in a refreshing manner. "The golden dew of sleep."

Shak.

3. An emblem of morning, or fresh vigor. "The dew of his youth."

Longfellow.

&hand; Dew is used in combination; as, dew -bespangled, dew -drenched, dew drop, etc.

Dew <Xpage=404>

Dew , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dewed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dewing .] To wet with dew or as with dew; to bedew; to moisten; as with dew.

The grasses grew A little ranker since they dewed them so. A. B. Saxton.

Dew <Xpage=404>

Dew , a. & n. Same as Due , or Duty . [Obs.]

Spenser.

Dewberry <Xpage=404>

Dew"ber`ry (?) , n. (Bot.) (a) The fruit of certain species of bramble ( Rubus ); in England, the fruit of R. c\'91sius , which has a glaucous bloom; in America, that of R. canadensis and R. hispidus , species of low blackberries . (b) The plant which bears the fruit.

Feed him with apricots and dewberries . Shak.

Dewclaw <Xpage=404>

Dew"claw` (?) , n. In any animal, esp. of the Herbivora, a rudimentary claw or small hoof not reaching the ground.

Some cut off the dewclaws [of greyhounds]. J. H. Walsh.

Dewdrop <Xpage=404>

Dew"drop` (?) , n. A drop of dew.

Shak.

Dewfall <Xpage=404>

Dew"fall` (?) , n. The falling of dew; the time when dew begins to fall.

Dewiness <Xpage=404>

Dew"i*ness (?) , n. State of being dewy.

Dewlap <Xpage=404>

Dew"lap` (?) , n. [ Dew + lap to lick.]

1. The pendulous skin under the neck of an ox, which laps or licks the dew in grazing.

2. The flesh upon the human throat, especially when with age. [Burlesque]

On her withered dewlap pour the ale. Shak.

Dewlapped <Xpage=404>

Dew"lapped` (?) , a. Furnished with a dewlap.

Dewless <Xpage=404>

Dew"less , a. Having no dew.

Tennyson.

Dew-point <Xpage=404>

Dew"-point` (?) , n. (Meteor.) The temperature at which dew begins to form. It varies with the humidity and temperature of the atmosphere.

Dewret <Xpage=404>

Dew"ret` (?) , v. t. [ Dew + ret , v. t.] To ret or rot by the process called dewretting .

Dewretting <Xpage=404>

Dew"ret`ting , n. Dewrotting; the process of decomposing the gummy matter of flax and hemp and setting the fibrous part, by exposure on a sward to dew, rain, and sunshine.

Dewrot <Xpage=404>

Dew"rot` (?) , v. t. To rot, as flax or hemp, by exposure to rain, dew, and sun. See Dewretting .

Dewworm <Xpage=404>

Dew"worm` (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) See Earthworm .

Dewy <Xpage=404>

Dew"y (?) , a.

1. Pertaining to dew; resembling, consisting of, or moist with, dew.

A dewy mist Went and watered all the ground. Milton.

When dewy eve her curtain draws. Keble.

2. Falling gently and beneficently, like the dew.

Dewy sleep ambrosial. Cowper.

3. (Bot.) Resembling a dew-covered surface; appearing as if covered with dew.

Dexter <Xpage=404>

Dex"ter (?) , a. [L.,; akin to Gr. <?/, <?/, Skr. dakshi<?/a (cf. daksh to be strong, suit); Goth. taihswa , OHG. zeso . Cf. Dexterous .]

1. Pertaining to, or situated on, the right hand; right, as opposed to sinister , or left .

On sounding wings a dexter eagle flew. Pope.

2. (Her.) On the right-hand side of a shield, i . e ., towards the right hand of its wearer. To a spectator in front, as in a pictorial representation, this would be the left side.

Dexter chief , &or; Dexter point (Her.) , a point in the dexter upper corner of the shield, being in the dexter extremity of the chief, as A in the cut. -- Dexter base , a point in the dexter lower part or base of the shield, as B in the cut.

Dexterical <Xpage=404>

Dex*ter"i*cal (?) , a. Dexterous. [Obs.]

Dexterity <Xpage=404>

Dex*ter"i*ty (?) , n. [L. dexteritas , fr. dexter : cf. F. dext\'82rit\'82 . See Dexter .]

1. Right-handedness.

2. Readiness and grace in physical activity; skill and ease in using the hands; expertness in manual acts; as, dexterity with the chisel .

In youth quick bearing and dexterity . Shak.

3. Readiness in the use or control of the mental powers; quickness and skill in managing any complicated or difficult affair; adroitness.

His wisdom . . . was turned . . . into a dexterity to deliver himself. Bacon.

He had conducted his own defense with singular boldness and dexterity . Hallam.

Syn. -- Adroitness; activity; nimbleness; expertness; skill; cleverness; art; ability; address; tact; facility; aptness; aptitude; faculty. See Skill .

Dexterous <Xpage=404>

Dex"ter*ous (?) , a. [L. dexter . See Dexter .] [Written also dextrous .]

1. Ready and expert in the use of the body and limbs; skillful and active with the hands; handy; ready; as, a dexterous hand; a dexterous workman.

2. Skillful in contrivance; quick at inventing expedients; expert; as, a dexterous manager .

Dexterous the craving, fawning crowd to quit. Pope.

3. Done with dexterity; skillful; artful; as, dexterous management . " Dexterous sleights of hand."

Trench.

Syn. -- Adroit; active; expert; skillful; clever; able; ready; apt; handy; versed.

Dexterously <Xpage=404>

Dex"ter*ous*ly (?) , adv. In a dexterous manner; skillfully.

Dexterousness <Xpage=404>

Dex"ter*ous*ness , n. The quality of being dexterous; dexterity.

Dextrad <Xpage=404>

Dex"trad (?) , adv. [L. dextra the right hand + ad to.] (Anat.) Toward the right side; dextrally.

Dextral <Xpage=404>

Dex"tral (?) , a. [From Dexter .] Right, as opposed to sinistral , or left .

Dextral shell (Zo\'94l.) , a spiral shell the whorls of which turn from left right, or like the hands of a watch when the apex of the spire is toward the eye of the observer.

Dextrality <Xpage=404>

Dex*tral"i*ty (?) , n. The state of being on the right-hand side; also, the quality of being right-handed; right-handedness.

Sir T. Browne.

Dextrally <Xpage=404>

Dex"tral*ly (?) (<?/), adv . Towards the right; as, the hands of a watch rotate dextrally .

Dextrer <Xpage=404>

Dex*trer" (?) , n. A war horse; a destrer. [Obs.] "By him baiteth his dextrer ."

Chaucer.

Dextrin <Xpage=404>

Dex"trin (?) , n. [Cf. F. dextrine , G. dextrin . See Dexter .] (Chem.) A translucent, gummy, amorphous substance, nearly tasteless and odorless, used as a substitute for gum, for sizing, etc., and obtained from starch by the action of heat, acids, or diastase. It is of somewhat variable composition, containing several carbohydrates which change easily to their respective varieties of sugar. It is so named from its rotating the plane of polarization to the right; -- called also British gum , Alsace gum , gommelin , leiocome , etc. See Achro\'94dextrin , and Erythrodextrin .

Dextro- <Xpage=404>

Dex"tro- (?) . A prefix, from L. dexter , meaning, pertaining to, or toward, the right ; (Chem. & Opt.) having the property of turning the plane of polarized light to the right ; as, dextro tartaric acid .

Dextrogerous <Xpage=404>

Dex*trog"er*ous (?) , a. (Physics & Chem.) See Dextrogyrate .

Dextroglucose <Xpage=404>

Dex`tro*glu"cose` (?) , n. [ Dextro- + glucose .] (Chem.) Same as Dextrose .

Dextrogyrate <Xpage=404>

Dex`tro*gy"rate (?) , a. [ Dextro- + gyrate .] (Chem. & Opt.) Same as Dextrorotatory .

Dextronic <Xpage=404>

Dex*tron"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, dextrose; as, dextronic acid .

Dextronic acid , a sirupy substance obtained by the partial oxidation of various carbohydrates, as dextrose, etc.

Dextrorotary <Xpage=404>

Dex`tro*ro"ta*ry (?) , a. (Physics & Chem.) See Dextrotatory .

Dextrorotatory <Xpage=404>

Dex`tro*ro"ta*to*ry (?) , a. [ Dextro- + rotatory .] (Chem. & Opt.) Turning, or causing to turn, toward the right hand; esp., turning the plane of polarization of luminous rays toward the right hand; as, dextrorotatory crystals, sugars, etc. Cf. Levorotatory .

Dextrorsal, Dextrorse <Xpage=404>

Dex*tror"sal (?) , Dex"trorse` (?) , a. [L. dextrorsum , contr. fr. dextrovorsum , dextroversum , toward the right side; dexter right + versus , vorsus , p. p. of vertere , vortere , to turn.] Turning from the left to the right, in the ascending line, as in the spiral inclination of the stem of the common morning-gl\'a2ry.

&hand; At present scientists predicate dextrorse or sinistrorse quality of the plant regarded objectively; formerly the plant was regarded subjectively, and what is now called dextrorse was then considered sinistrorse.

Dextrose <Xpage=404>