Chapter 436

3. (Zo\'94l.) Having the margin wide and spreading.

Dilatedly <Xpage=412>

Di*lat"ed*ly , adv. In a dilated manner.

Feltham.

Dilater <Xpage=412>

Di*lat"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, dilates, expands, o r enlarges.

Dilation <Xpage=412>

Di*la"tion (?) , n. [L. dilatio . See Dilatory .] Delay. [Obs.]

Bp. Hall.

Dilation <Xpage=412>

Di*la"tion , n. [From dilate , v., cf. Dilatation , Dilator .] The act of dilating, or the state of being dilated; expansion; dilatation.

Mrs. Browning.

At first her eye with slow dilation rolled. Tennyson.

A gigantic dilation of the hateful figure. Dickens.

Dilative <Xpage=412>

Di*lat"ive (?) , a. Causing dilation; tending to dilate, on enlarge; expansive.

Coleridge.

Dilatometer <Xpage=412>

Dil`a*tom"e*ter (?) , n. [ Dilate + -meter .] (Physiol.) An instrument for measuring the dilatation or expansion of a substance, especially of a fluid.

Dilator <Xpage=412>

Di*lat"or (?) , n. [See Dilate .]

1. One who, or that which, widens or expands.

2. (Anat.) A muscle that dilates any part.

3. (Med.) An instrument for expanding a part; as, a urethral dilator .

Dilatorily <Xpage=412>

Dil"a*to*ri*ly (?) , adv. With delay; tardily.

Dilatoriness <Xpage=412>

Dil"a*to*ri*ness , n. The quality of being dilatory; lateness; slowness; tardiness; sluggishness.

Dilatory <Xpage=412>

Dil"a*to*ry (?) , a. [L. dilatorius , fr. dilator a delayer, fr. dilatus , used as p. p. of differe to defer, delay: cf. F. dilatoire . See Dilate , Differ , Defer .]

1. Inclined to defer or put off what ought to be done at once; given the procrastination; delaying; procrastinating; loitering; as, a dilatory servant .

2. Marked by procrastination or delay; tardy; slow; sluggish; -- said of actions or measures.

Alva, as usual, brought his dilatory policy to bear upon hi<?/ adversary. Motley.

Dilatory plea (Law) , a plea designed to create delay in the trial of a cause, generally founded upon some matter not connected with the merits of the case.

Syn. -- Slow; delaying; sluggish; inactive; loitering; behindhand; backward; procrastinating. See Slow .

Dildo <Xpage=412>

Dil"do (?) , n. A burden in popular songs. [Obs.]

Delicate burthens of dildos and fadings. Shak.

Dildo <Xpage=412>

Dil"do , n. (Bot.) A columnar cactaceous plant of the West Indies ( Cereus Swartzii ).

Dilection <Xpage=412>

Di*lec"tion (?) , n. [L. dilectio : dilection . See Diligent .] Love; choice. [Obs.]

T. Martin.

Dilemma <Xpage=412>

Di*lem"ma (?) , n. [L. dilemma , Gr. <?/; <?/- = <?/ twice + <?/ to take. See Lemma .]

1. (Logic) An argument which presents an antagonist with two or more alternatives, but is equally conclusive against him, whichever alternative he chooses.

&hand; The following are instances of the dilemma . A young rhetorician applied to an old sophist to be taught the art of pleading, and bargained for a certain reward to be paid when he should gain a cause. The master sued for his reward, and the scholar endeavored to <?/lude his claim by a dilemma . "If I gain my cause, I shall withhold your pay, because the judge's award will be against you; if I lose it, I may withhold it, because I shall not yet have gained a cause." "On the contrary," says the master, "if you gain your cause, you must pay me, because you are to pay me when you gain a cause; if you lose it, you must pay me, because the judge will award it."

Johnson.

2. A state of things in which evils or obstacles present themselves on every side, and it is difficult to determine what course to pursue; a vexatious alternative or predicament; a difficult choice or position.

A strong dilemma in a desperate case! To act with infamy, or quit the place. Swift.

Horns of a dilemma , alternatives, each of which is equally difficult of encountering.

Dilettant <Xpage=412>

Dil"et*tant` (?) , a. Of or pertaining to dilettanteism; amateur; as, dilettant speculation .

Carlyle.

Dilettant <Xpage=412>

Dil`et*tant" (?) , n. A dilettante.

Though few art lovers can be connoisseurs, many are dilettants . Fairholt.

Dilettante <Xpage=412>

Dil`et*tan"te (?) , n. ; pl. Dilettanti (#) . [It., prop. p. pr. of dillettare to take delight in, fr. L. delectare to delight. See Delight , v. t. ] An admirer or lover of the fine arts; popularly, an amateur; especially, one who follows an art or a branch of knowledge, desultorily, or for amusement only.

<page="413"> Page 413

The true poet is not an eccentric creature, not a mere artist living only for art, not a dreamer or a dilettante , sipping the nectar of existence, while he keeps aloof from its deeper interests. J. C. Shairp.

Dilettanteish <Xpage=413>

Dil`et*tan"te*ish (?) , a. Somewhat like a dilettante.

Dilettanteism <Xpage=413>

Dil`et*tan"te*ism (?) , n. The state or quality of being a dilettante; the desultory pursuit of art, science, or literature.

Dilettantish <Xpage=413>

Dil`et*tant"ish (?) , a. Dilettanteish.

Dilettantism <Xpage=413>

Dil`et*tant"ism (?) , n. Same as Dilettanteism .

F. Harrison.

Diligence <Xpage=413>

Dil"i*gence (?) , n. [F. diligence , L. diligentia .]

1. The quality of being diligent; carefulness; careful attention; -- the opposite of negligence .

2. Interested and persevering application; devoted and painstaking effort to accomplish what is undertaken; assiduity in service.

That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in; and the best of me is diligence . Shak.

3. (Scots Law) Process by which persons, lands, or effects are seized for debt; process for enforcing the attendance of witnesses or the production of writings.

To do one's diligence , give diligence , use diligence , to exert one's self; to make interested and earnest endeavor.

And each of them doth all his diligence To do unto the fest\'82 reverence. Chaucer.

Syn. -- Attention; industry; assiduity; sedulousness; earnestness; constancy; heed; heedfulness; care; caution. -- Diligence , Industry . Industry has the wider sense of the two, implying an habitual devotion to labor for some valuable end, as knowledge, property, etc. Diligence denotes earnest application to some specific object or pursuit, which more or less directly has a strong hold on one's interests or feelings. A man may be diligent for a time, or in seeking some favorite end, without meriting the title of industrious . Such was the case with Fox, while Burke was eminent not only for diligence , but industry ; he was always at work, and always looking out for some new field of mental effort.

The sweat of industry would dry and die, But for the end it works to. Shak.

Diligence and accuracy are the only merits which an historical writer ascribe to himself. Gibbon.

Diligence <Xpage=413>

Di`li*gence" (?) , n. [F.] A four-wheeled public stagecoach, used in France.

Diligency <Xpage=413>

Dil"i*gen*cy (?) , n. [L. diligentia .] Diligence; care; persevering endeavor. [Obs.]

Milton.

Diligent <Xpage=413>

Dil"i*gent (?) , a. [F. diligent , L. diligens , -entis , p. pr. of diligere , dilectum , to esteem highly, prefer; di- = dis- + legere to choose. See Legend .]

1. Prosecuted with careful attention and effort; careful; painstaking; not careless or negligent.

The judges shall make diligent inquisition. Deut. xix. 18.

2. Interestedly and perseveringly attentive; steady and earnest in application to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious.

Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings. Prov. xxii. 29.

Diligent cultivation of elegant literature. Prescott.

Syn. -- Active; assiduous; sedulous; laborious; persevering; attentive; industrious.

Diligently <Xpage=413>

Dil"i*gent*ly , adv. In a diligent manner; not carelessly; not negligently; with industry or assiduity.

Ye diligently keep commandments of the Lord your God. Deut. vi. 17.

Dill <Xpage=413>

Dill (?) , n. [AS dile ; akin to D. dille , OHG. tilli , G. dill , dille , Sw. dill , Dan. dild .] (Bot.) An herb ( Peucedanum graveolens ), the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, and were formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; -- called also dill-seed . <-- now Anethum graveolens -->

Dr. Prior.

Dill <Xpage=413>

Dill , v. t. [OE. dillen , fr. dul dull, a. ] To still; to calm; to soothe, as one in pain. [Obs.]

Dilling <Xpage=413>

Dil"ling (?) , n. A darling; a favorite. [Obs.]

Whilst the birds billing, Each one with his dilling . Drayton.

Dilluing <Xpage=413>

Dil*lu"ing (?) , n. (Min.) A process of sorting ore by washing in a hand sieve. [Written also deluing .]

Dilly <Xpage=413>

Dil"ly (?) , n. [Contr. fr. diligence .] A kind of stagecoach. "The Derby dilly ."

J. H. Frere.

Dilly-dally <Xpage=413>

Dil"ly-dal`ly (?) , v. i. [See Dally .] To loiter or trifle; to waste time.

Dilogical <Xpage=413>

Di*log"ic*al (?) , a. Ambiguous; of double meaning. [Obs.]

T. Adams.

Dilogy <Xpage=413>

Dil"o*gy (?) , n. ; pl. Dilogies (#) . [L. dilogia , Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ doubtful; <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ to speak.] (Rhet.) An ambiguous speech; a figure in which a word is used an equivocal sense. [R.]

Dilucid <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"cid (?) , a. [L. dilucidus , fr. dilucere to be light enough to distinguish objects apart. See Lucid .] Clear; lucid. [Obs.] Bacon . -- Di*lu"cid*ly , adv. [Obs.] -- Di`lu*cid"i*ty (#) , n. [Obs.]

Dilucidate <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"ci*date (?) , v. t. [L. dilucidatus , p. p. of dilucidare .] To elucidate. [Obs.]

Boyle.

Dilucidation <Xpage=413>

Di*lu`ci*da"tion (?) , n. [L. dilucidatio .] The act of making clear. [Obs.]

Boyle.

Diluent <Xpage=413>

Dil"u*ent (?) , a. [L. diluens , p. pr. diluere . See Dilute .] Diluting; making thinner or weaker by admixture, esp. of water.

Arbuthnot.

Diluent <Xpage=413>

Dil"u*ent , n.

1. That which dilutes.

2. (Med.) An agent used for effecting dilution of the blood; a weak drink.

There is no real diluent but water. Arbuthnot.

Dilute <Xpage=413>

Di*lute" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Diluted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Diluting .] [L. dilutus , p. p. of diluere to wash away, dilute; di- = dis- + luere , equiv. to lavare to wash, lave. See Lave , and cf. Deluge .]

1. To make thinner or more liquid by admixture with something; to thin and dissolve by mixing.

Mix their watery store. With the chyle's current, and dilute it more. Blackmore.

2. To diminish the strength, flavor, color, etc., of, by mixing; to reduce, especially by the addition of water; to temper; to attenuate; to weaken.

Lest these colors should be diluted and weakened by the mixture of any adventitious light. Sir I. Newton.

Dilute <Xpage=413>

Di*lute" (?) , v. i. To become attenuated, thin, or weak; as, it dilutes easily .

Dilute <Xpage=413>

Di*lute" (?) , a. [L. dilutus , p. p.] Diluted; thin; weak.

A dilute and waterish exposition. Hopkins.

Diluted <Xpage=413>

Di*lut"ed (?) , a. Reduced in strength; thin; weak. -- Di*lut"ed*ly , adv.

Diluteness <Xpage=413>

Di*lute"ness (?) , n. The quality or state of being dilute.

Bp. Wilkins.

Diluter <Xpage=413>

Di*lut"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, dilutes or makes thin, more liquid, or weaker.

Dilution <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"tion (?) , n. [Cf. F. dilution .] The act of diluting, or the state of being diluted.

Arbuthnot.

Diluvial <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"vi*al (?) , a. [L. diluvialis . fr. diluvium .]

1. Of or pertaining to a flood or deluge, esp. to the great deluge in the days of Noah; diluvian.

2. (Geol.) Effected or produced by a flood or deluge of water; -- said of coarse and imperfectly stratified deposits along ancient or existing water courses. Similar unstratified deposits were formed by the agency of ice. The time of deposition has been called the Diluvian epoch .

Diluvialist <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"vi*al*ist , n. One who explains geological phenomena by the Noachian deluge.

Lyell.

Diluvian <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"vi*an (?) , a. [Cf. F. diluvien .] Of or pertaining to a deluge, esp. to the Noachian deluge; diluvial; as, of diluvian origin .

Buckland.

Diluviate <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"vi*ate (?) , v. i. [L. diluviare .] To run as a flood. [Obs.]

Sir E. Sandys.

Diluvium <Xpage=413>

Di*lu"vi*um (?) , n. ; pl. E. Diluviums (#) , L. Diluvia (#) . [L. diluvium . See Dilute , Deluge .] (Geol.) A deposit of superficial loam, sand, gravel, stones, etc., caused by former action of flowing waters, or the melting of glacial ice.

&hand; The accumulation of matter by the ordinary operation of water is termed alluvium .

Dim <Xpage=413>

Dim (?) , a. [ Compar. Dimmer (?) ; superl. Dimmest (?) .] [AS. dim ; akin to OFries. dim , Icel. dimmr : cf. MHG. timmer , timber ; of uncertain origin.]

1. Not bright or distinct; wanting luminousness or clearness; obscure in luster or sound; dusky; darkish; obscure; indistinct; overcast; tarnished.

The dim magnificence of poetry. Whewell.

How is the gold become dim ! Lam. iv. 1.

I never saw The heavens so dim by day. Shak.

Three sleepless nights I passed in sounding on, Through words and things, a dim and perilous way. Wordsworth.

2. Of obscure vision; not seeing clearly; hence, dull of apprehension; of weak perception; obtuse.

Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow. Job xvii. 7.

The understanding is dim . Rogers.

&hand; Obvious compounds: dim -eyed; dim -sighted, etc.

Syn. -- Obscure; dusky; dark; mysterious; imperfect; dull; sullied; tarnished.

Dim <Xpage=413>

Dim , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dimmed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dimming .]

1. To render dim, obscure, or dark; to make less bright or distinct; to take away the luster of; to darken; to dull; to obscure; to eclipse.

A king among his courtiers, who dims all his attendants. Dryden.

Now set the sun, and twilight dimmed the ways. Cowper.

2. To deprive of distinct vision; to hinder from seeing clearly, either by dazzling or clouding the eyes; to darken the senses or understanding of.

Her starry eyes were dimmed with streaming tears. C. Pitt.

Dim <Xpage=413>

Dim , v. i. To grow dim.

J. C. Shairp.

Dimble <Xpage=413>

Dim"ble (?) , n. [Prob. orig., a cavity, and the same word as dimple . See Dimple .] A bower; a dingle. [Obs.]

Drayton.

Dime <Xpage=413>

Dime (?) , n. [F. d\'8cme tithe, OF. disme , fr. L. decimus the tenth, fr. decem ten. See Decimal .] A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents; the tenth of a dollar.

Dime novel , a novel, commonly sensational and trashy, which is sold for a dime, or ten cents.

Dimension <Xpage=413>

Di*men"sion (?) , n. [L. dimensio , fr. dimensus , p. p. of dimetiri to measure out; di- = dis- + metiri to measure: cf. F. dimension . See Measure .]

1. Measure in a single line, as length, breadth, height, thickness, or circumference; extension; measurement; -- usually, in the plural, measure in length and breadth, or in length, breadth, and thickness; extent; size; as, the dimensions of a room, or of a ship; the dimensions of a farm, of a kingdom.

Gentlemen of more than ordinary dimensions . W. Irving.

Space of dimension , extension that has length but no breadth or thickness; a straight or curved line. -- Space of two dimensions , extension which has length and breadth, but no thickness; a plane or curved surface. -- Space of three dimensions , extension which has length, breadth, and thickness; a solid. -- Space of four dimensions , as imaginary kind of extension, which is assumed to have length, breadth, thickness, and also a fourth imaginary dimension. Space of five or six, or more dimensions is also sometimes assumed in mathematics.

2. Extent; reach; scope; importance; as, a project of large dimensions .

3. (Math.) The degree of manifoldness of a quantity; as, time is quantity having one dimension ; volume has three dimensions , relative to extension.

4. (Alg.) A literal factor, as numbered in characterizing a term. The term dimensions forms with the cardinal numbers a phrase equivalent to degree with the ordinal; thus, a 2 b 2 c is a term of five dimensions , or of the fifth degree.

5. pl. (Phys.) The manifoldness with which the fundamental units of time, length, and mass are involved in determining the units of other physical quantities. Thus, since the unit of velocity varies directly as the unit of length and inversely as the unit of time, the dimensions of velocity are said to be length &divby; time ; the dimensions of work are mass &times; (length) 2 &divby; (time) 2 ; the dimensions of density are mass &divby; (length) 3 .

<-- dimensional lumber --> Dimension lumber , Dimension scantling , &or; Dimension stock (Carp.) , lumber for building, etc., cut to the sizes usually in demand, or to special sizes as ordered. -- Dimension stone , stone delivered from the quarry rough, but brought to such sizes as are requisite for cutting to dimensions given.