The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary
Chapter 431
2. pl. A child's game, played with dib bones.
Dibasic <Xpage=407>
Di*ba"sic (?) , a. [Pref. di- + basic .] (Chem.) Having two acid hydrogen atoms capable of replacement by basic atoms or radicals, in forming salts; bibasic; -- said of acids, as oxalic or sulphuric acids. Cf. Diacid , Bibasic .
&hand; In the case of certain acids dibasic and divalent are not synonymous; as, tartaric acid is tetravalent and dibasic , lactic acid is divalent but monobasic .
Dibasicity <Xpage=407>
Di`ba*sic"i*ty (?) , n. (Chem.) The property or condition of being dibasic.
Dibber <Xpage=407>
Dib"ber (?) , n. A dibble.
Halliwell.
Dibble <Xpage=407>
Dib"ble (?) , n. [See Dibble , v. i. ] A pointed implement used to make holes in the ground in which no set out plants or to plant seeds.
Dibble <Xpage=407>
Dib"ble , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Dibbled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dibbling (?) .] [Freq. of Prov. E. dib , for dip to thrust in. See Dip .] To dib or dip frequently, as in angling.
Walton.
Dibble <Xpage=407>
Dib"ble , v. t.
1. To plant with a dibble; to make holes in (soil) with a dibble, for planting.
2. To make holes or indentations in, as if with a dibble.
The clayey soil around it was dibbled thick at the time by the tiny hoofs of sheep. H. Miller.
Dibbler <Xpage=407>
Dib"bler (?) , n. One who, or that which, dibbles, or makes holes in the ground for seed.
Dibranchiata <Xpage=407>
Di*bran`chi*a"ta (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ gills.] (Zo\'94l.) An order of cephalopods which includes those with two gills, an apparatus for emitting an inky fluid, and either eight or ten cephalic arms bearing suckers or hooks, as the octopi and squids. See Cephalopoda .
Dibranchiate <Xpage=407>
Di*bran"chi*ate (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Having two gills. -- n. One of the Dibranchiata.
<page="408"> Page 408
Dibs <Xpage=408>
Dibs (?) , n. A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East.
Johnston.
Dibstone <Xpage=408>
Dib"stone` (?; 110) , n. A pebble used in a child's game called dibstones .
Locke.
Dibutyl <Xpage=408>
Di*bu"tyl (?) , n. [Pref. di- + butyl .] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C8H18 , of the marsh-gas series, being one of several octanes, and consisting of two butyl radicals. Cf. Octane .
Dicacious <Xpage=408>
Di*ca"cious (?) , a. [L. dicax , dicacis , fr. dicere to say.] Talkative; pert; saucy. [Obs.]
Dicacity <Xpage=408>
Di*cac"i*ty (?) , n. [L. dicacitas : cf. F. dicacit\'82 . See Dicacious .] Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]
Dicalcic <Xpage=408>
Di*cal"cic (?) , a. [Pref. di- + calcic .] (Chem.) Having two atoms or equivalents of calcium to the molecule.
Dicarbonic <Xpage=408>
Di`car*bon"ic (?) , a. [Pref. di- + carbonic .] (Chem.) Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl or radicals; as, oxalic acid is a dicarbonic acid .
Dicast <Xpage=408>
Di"cast (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ to judge, <?/ right, judgment, justice.] A functionary in ancient Athens answering nearly to the modern juryman.
Dicastery <Xpage=408>
Di*cas"ter*y (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ juryman. See Dicast .] A court of justice; judgment hall. [R.]
J. S. Mill.
Dice <Xpage=408>
Dice (?) , n. ; pl. of Die . Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See Die , n.
Dice coal , a kind of coal easily splitting into cubical fragments.
Brande & C.
<-- Illustr. of Dice. -->
Dice <Xpage=408>
Dice , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Diced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dicing .]
1. To play games with dice.
I . . . diced not above seven times a week. Shak.
2. To ornament with squares, diamonds, or cubes.
Dicebox <Xpage=408>
Dice"box` (?) , n. A box from which dice are thrown in gaming.
Thackeray.
Dicentra <Xpage=408>
Di*cen"tra (?) , n. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ spur.] (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants, with racemes of two-spurred or heart-shaped flowers, including the Dutchman's breeches, and the more showy Bleeding heart ( D. spectabilis ). [Corruptly written dielytra .]
Dicephalous <Xpage=408>
Di*ceph"a*lous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ head.] Having two heads on one body; double-headed.
Dicer <Xpage=408>
Di"cer (?) , n. A player at dice; a dice player; a gamester.
As false as dicers' oaths. Shak.
Dich <Xpage=408>
Dich (?) , v. i. To ditch. [Obs.]
Dichastic <Xpage=408>
Di*chas"tic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ to part asunder, fr. <?/ in two, asunder, fr. <?/ twice.] (Biol.) Capable of subdividing spontaneously.
Dichlamydeous <Xpage=408>
Di`chla*myd"e*ous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/, <?/, a cloak.] (Bot.) Having two coverings, a calyx and in corolla.
Dichloride <Xpage=408>
Di*chlo"ride (?) , n. [Pref. di- + chloride .] (Chem.) Same as Bichloride .
Dichogamous <Xpage=408>
Di*chog"a*mous (?) , a. (Bot.) Manifesting dichogamy.
Dichogamy <Xpage=408>
Di*chog"a*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ in two, asunder + <?/ marriage.] (Bot.) The condition of certain species of plants, in which the stamens and pistil do not mature simultaneously, so that these plants can never fertilize themselves.
Dichotomist <Xpage=408>
Di*chot"o*mist (?) , n. One who dichotomizes.
Bacon.
Dichotomize <Xpage=408>
Di*chot"o*mize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dichotomized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dichotomizing (?) .] [See Dichotomous .]
1. To cut into two parts; to part into two divisions; to divide into pairs; to bisect. [R.]
The apostolical benediction dichotomizes all good things into grace and peace. Bp. Hall.
2. (Astron.) To exhibit as a half disk. See Dichotomy , 3. "[The moon] was dichotomized ."
Whewell.
Dichotomize <Xpage=408>
Di*chot"o*mize , v. i. To separate into two parts; to branch dichotomously; to become dichotomous.
Dichotomous <Xpage=408>
Di*chot"o*mous (?) , a. [L. dichotomos , Gr. <?/; <?/ in two, asunder + <?/ to cut.] Regularly dividing by pairs from bottom to top; as, a dichotomous stem . -- Di*chot"o*mous*ly , adv.
Dichotomy <Xpage=408>
Di*chot"o*my (?) , n. [Gr. <?/, fr. <?/: cf. F. dichotomie . See Dichotomous .]
1. A cutting in two; a division.
A general breach or dichotomy with their church. Sir T. Browne.
2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into two subordinate parts.
3. (Astron.) That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows only half its disk, as at the quadratures.
4. (Biol.) Successive division and subdivision, as of a stem of a plant or a vein of the body, into two parts as it proceeds from its origin; successive bifurcation.
5. The place where a stem or vein is forked.
6. (Logic) Division into two; especially, the division of a class into two subclasses opposed to each other by contradiction, as the division of the term man into white and not white .
Dichroic <Xpage=408>
Di*chro"ic (?) , a. [See Dichroism .] Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal .
Dichroiscope <Xpage=408>
Di*chro"i*scope (?) , n. Same as Dichroscope .
Dichroism <Xpage=408>
Di"chro*ism (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ two-colored; <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ color.] (Opt.) The property of presenting different colors by transmitted light, when viewed in two different directions, the colors being unlike in the direction of unlike or unequal axes.
Dichroite <Xpage=408>
Di"chro*ite (?) , n. [See Dichroism .] (Min.) Iolite; -- so called from its presenting two different colors when viewed in two different directions. See Iolite .
Dichroitic <Xpage=408>
Di`chro*it"ic (?) , a. Dichroic.
Dichromate <Xpage=408>
Di*chro"mate (?) , n. (Chem.) A salt of chromic acid containing two equivalents of the acid radical to one of the base; -- called also bichromate .
Dichromatic <Xpage=408>
Di`chro*mat"ic (?) , a. [Pref. di- + chromatic : cf. Gr. <?/.]
1. Having or exhibiting two colors.
2. (Zo\'94l.) Having two color varieties, or two phases differing in color, independently of age or sex, as in certain birds and insects.
Dichromatism <Xpage=408>
Di*chro"ma*tism (?) , n. The state of being dichromatic.
Dichromic <Xpage=408>
Di*chro"mic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ two-colored; <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ color.] Furnishing or giving two colors; -- said of defective vision, in which all the compound colors are resolvable into two elements instead of three.
Sir J. Herschel.
Dichroous <Xpage=408>
Di"chro*ous (?) , a. Dichroic.
Dichroscope <Xpage=408>
Di"chro*scope (?) , n. [Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ color + <?/ to view.] An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals.
Dichroscopic <Xpage=408>
Di`chro*scop"ic (?) , a. Pertaining to the dichroscope, or to observations with it.
Dicing <Xpage=408>
Di"cing (?) , n.
1. An ornamenting in squares or cubes.
2. Gambling with dice.
J. R. Green.
Dickcissel <Xpage=408>
Dick*cis"sel (?) , n. (Zo\'94l.) The American black-throated bunting ( Spiza Americana ).
Dickens <Xpage=408>
Dick"ens (?) , n. ∨ interj. [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins .] The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.]
I can not tell what the dickens his name is. Shak.
Dicker <Xpage=408>
Dick"er (?) , n. [Also daker , dakir ; akin to Icel. dekr , Dan. deger , G. decher ; all prob. from LL. dacra , dacrum , the number ten, akin to L. decuria a division consisting of ten, fr. decem ten. See Ten .]
1. The number or quantity of ten, particularly ten hides or skins; a dakir; as, a dicker of gloves . [Obs.]
A dicker of cowhides. Heywood.
2. A chaffering, barter, or exchange, of small wares; as, to make a dicker . [U.S.]
For peddling dicker , not for honest sales. Whittier.
Dicker <Xpage=408>
Dick"er , v. i. & t. To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U.S.] "Ready to dicker . and to swap."
Cooper.
Dickey, Dicky <Xpage=408>
Dick"ey , Dick"y (?) , n.
1. A seat behind a carriage, for a servant.
2. A false shirt front or bosom.
3. A gentleman's shirt collar. [Local, U. S.]
Diclinic <Xpage=408>
Di*clin"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ to incline.] (Crystallog.) Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique. See Crystallization .
Diclinous <Xpage=408>
Dic"li*nous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ = <?/ bed.] Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers.
Gray.
Dicoccous <Xpage=408>
Di*coc"cous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ grain, seed.] (Bot.) Composed pf two coherent, one-seeded carpels; as, a dicoccous capsule .
Dicotyledon <Xpage=408>
Di*cot`y*le"don (?) , n. [Pref. di- + cotyledon .] (Bot.) A plant whose seeds divide into two seed lobes, or cotyledons, in germinating.
Dicotyledonous <Xpage=408>
Di*cot`y*le"don*ous (?) , a. (Bot.) Having two cotyledons or seed lobes; as, a dicotyledonous plant .
Dicrotal, Dicrotous <Xpage=408>
Di"cro*tal (?) , Di"cro*tous (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ a double beating.] Dicrotic.
Dicrotic <Xpage=408>
Di*crot"ic (?) , a. [Gr. <?/ = <?/ to knock, beat.] (Physiol.) (a) Of or pertaining to dicrotism; as, a dicrotic pulse . (b) Of or pertaining to the second expansion of the artery in the dicrotic pulse; as, the dicrotic wave .
Dicrotism <Xpage=408>
Di"cro*tism (?) , n. (Physiol.) A condition in which there are two beats or waves of the arterial pulse to each beat of the heart.
Dicta <Xpage=408>
Dic"ta (?) , n. pl. [L.] See Dictum .
Dictamen <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"men (?) , n. [LL., fr. dictare to dictate.] A dictation or dictate. [R.]
Falkland.
Dictamnus <Xpage=408>
Dic*tam"nus (?) , n. [L. See Dittany .] (Bot.) A suffrutescent, D . Fraxinella (the only species), with strong perfume and showy flowers. The volatile oil of the leaves is highly inflammable.
Dictate <Xpage=408>
Dic"tate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dictated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dictating .] [L. dictatus , p. p. of dictare , freq. of dicere to say. See Diction , and cf. Dight .]
1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis .
The mind which dictated the Iliad. Wayland.
Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit. Macaulay.
2. To say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to deliver (a command) to a subordinate; to declare with authority; to impose; as, to dictate the terms of a treaty; a general dictates orders to his troops.
Whatsoever is dictated to us by God must be believed. Watts.
Syn. -- To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge; admonish.
Dictate <Xpage=408>
Dic"tate , v. i.
1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on).
Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign. Macaulay.
2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said by another.
Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how to dictate . Bacon.
Dictate <Xpage=408>
Dic"tate (?) , n. [L. dictatum . See Dictate , v. t. ] A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as, listen to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of the gospel.
I credit what the Grecian dictates say. Prior.
Syn. -- Command; injunction; direction suggestion; impulse; admonition.
Dictation <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"tion (?) , n. [L. dictatio .]
1. The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also that which is dictated.
It affords security against the dictation of laws. Paley.
2. The speaking to, or the giving orders to, in an overbearing manner; authoritative utterance; as, his habit, even with friends, was that of dictatio .
Dictator <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"tor (?) , n. [L.]
1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others.
Locke.
2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with unlimited power.
Invested with the authority of a dictator , nay, of a pope, over our language. Macaulay.
Dictatorial <Xpage=408>
Dic`ta*to"ri*al (?) , a. [Cf. F. dictatorial .]
1. Pertaining or suited to a dictator; absolute.
Military powers quite dictatorial . W. Irving.
2. Characteristic of a dictator; imperious; dogmatical; overbearing; as, a dictatorial tone or manner .
-- Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ly , adv. -- Dic`ta*to"ri*al*ness , n.
Dictatorian <Xpage=408>
Dic`ta*to"ri*an (?) , a. Dictatorial. [Obs.]
Dictatorship <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"tor*ship (?) , n. The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.
Dictatory <Xpage=408>
Dic"ta*to*ry (?) , a. [L. dictatorius .] Dogmatical; overbearing; dictatorial.
Milton.
Dictatress <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"tress (?) , n. A woman who dictates or commands.
Earth's chief dictatress , ocean's mighty queen. Byron.
Dictatrix <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"trix (?) , n. [L.] A dictatress.
Dictature <Xpage=408>
Dic*ta"ture (?; 135) , n. [L. dictatura : cf. F. dictature .] Office of a dictator; dictatorship. [R.]
Bacon.
Diction <Xpage=408>
Dic"tion (?) , n. [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere , dictum , to say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach , token : cf. F. diction . See Teach , and cf. Benison , Dedicate , Index , Judge , Preach , Vengeance .] Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as, the diction of Chaucer's poems .
His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur. De Quincey.
Syn. -- Diction , Style , Phraseology . Style relates both to language and thought; diction , to language only; phraseology , to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased . The style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology , at times, was careless and cumbersome. " Diction is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction ; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of style ."
Crabb.
Dictionalrian <Xpage=408>
Dic`tion*al"ri*an (?) , n. A lexicographer. [R.]
Dictionary <Xpage=408>