Chapter 36

Dirt, v. t. To make foul of filthy; to dirty. Swift.

Dirt"i*ly (?), adv. In a dirty manner; foully; nastily; filthily; meanly; sordidly.

Dirt"i*ness, n. The state of being dirty; filthiness; foulness; nastiness; baseness; sordidness.

Dirt"y (?), a. [Compar. Dirtier (?); superl. Dirtiest.] 1. Defiled with dirt; foul; nasty; filthy; not clean or pure; serving to defile; as, dirty hands; dirty water; a dirty white. Spenser.

2. Sullied; clouded; -- applied to color. Locke.

3. Sordid; base; groveling; as, a dirty fellow.

The creature's at his dirty work again.

Pope.

4. Sleety; gusty; stormy; as, dirty weather.

Storms of wind, clouds of dust, an angry, dirty sea.

M. Arnold.

Syn. -- Nasty; filthy; foul. See Nasty.

Dirt"y, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dirtied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dirtying.] 1. To foul; to make filthy; to soil; as, to dirty the clothes or hands.

2. To tarnish; to sully; to scandalize; -- said of reputation, character, etc.

Di*rup"tion (?), n. [L. diruptio, fr. dirumpere. See Disrupt, a.] Disruption.

Dis- (?; 258). 1. A prefix from the Latin, whence F. dés, or sometimes dé-, dis-. The Latin dis-appears as di-before b, d, g, l, m, n, r, v, becomes dif-before f, and either dis-or di- before j. It is from the same root as bis twice, and duo, E. two. See Two, and cf. Bi-, Di-, Dia-. Dis- denotes separation, a parting from, as in distribute, disconnect; hence it often has the force of a privative and negative, as in disarm, disoblige, disagree. Also intensive, as in dissever.

Walker's rule of pronouncing this prefix is, that the s ought always to be pronounced like z, when the next syllable is accented and begins with "a flat mute [b, d, v, g, z], a liquid [l, m, n, r], or a vowel; as, disable, disease, disorder, disuse, disband, disdain, disgrace, disvalue, disjoin, dislike, dislodge, dismay, dismember, dismiss, dismount, disnatured, disrank, disrelish, disrobe." Dr. Webster's example in disapproving of Walker's rule and pronouncing dis-as diz in only one (disease) of the above words, is followed by recent orthoëpists. See Disable, Disgrace, and the other words, beginning with dis-, in this Dictionary.

2. A prefix from Gr. di`s- twice. See Di-.

||Dis (?), n. [L.] The god Pluto. Shak.

Dis`a*bil"i*ty (?), n.; pl. Disabilities (&?;). 1. State of being disabled; deprivation or want of ability; absence of competent physical, intellectual, or moral power, means, fitness, and the like.

Grossest faults, or disabilities to perform what was covenanted.

Milton.

Chatham refused to see him, pleading his disability.

Bancroft.

2. Want of legal qualification to do a thing; legal incapacity or incompetency.

The disabilities of idiocy, infancy, and coverture.

Abbott.

Syn. -- Weakness; inability; incompetence; impotence; incapacity; incompetency; disqualification. -- Disability, Inability. Inability is an inherent want of power to perform the thing in question; disability arises from some deprivation or loss of the needed competency. One who becomes deranged is under a disability of holding his estate; and one who is made a judge, of deciding in his own case. A man may decline an office on account of his inability to discharge its duties; he may refuse to accept a trust or employment on account of some disability prevents him from entering into such engagements.

Dis*a"ble (?), a. Lacking ability; unable. [Obs.] "Our disable and unactive force." Daniel.

Dis*a"ble (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disabling (?).] 1. To render unable or incapable; to destroy the force, vigor, or power of action of; to deprive of competent physical or intellectual power; to incapacitate; to disqualify; to make incompetent or unfit for service; to impair.

A Christian's life is a perpetual exercise, a wrestling and warfare, for which sensual pleasure disables him.

Jer. Taylor.

And had performed it, if my known offense Had not disabled me.

Milton.

I have disabled mine estate.

Shak.

2. (Law) To deprive of legal right or qualification; to render legally incapable.

An attainder of the ancestor corrupts the blood, and disables his children to inherit.

Blackstone.

3. To deprive of that which gives value or estimation; to declare lacking in competency; to disparage; to undervalue. [Obs.] "He disabled my judgment." Shak.

Syn. -- To weaken; unfit; disqualify; incapacitate.

Dis*a"ble*ment (?), n. Deprivation of ability; incapacity. Bacon.

Dis`a*buse" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disabused (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disabusing.] [Pref. dis- + abuse; cf. F. désabuser.] To set free from mistakes; to undeceive; to disengage from fallacy or deception; to set right.

To undeceive and disabuse the people.

South.

If men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves or artifice, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history.

J. Adams.

Dis`ac*com"mo*date (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + accommodate.] To put to inconvenience; to incommode. [R.] Bp. Warburton.

Dis`ac*com`mo*da"tion (?), n. A state of being unaccommodated or unsuited. [R.] Sir M. Hale.

Dis`ac*cord" (?), v. i. [Cf. F. désaccorder to cause discord.] To refuse to assent. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`ac*cord", n. Disagreement. Pop. Sci. Monthly.

Dis`ac*cord"ant (?), a. Not accordant. Fabyan.

Dis`ac*cus"tom (?), v. t. [Cf. F. désaccoutumer.] To destroy the force of habit in; to wean from a custom. Johnson.

Dis`a*cid"i*fy (?), v. t. To free from acid.

Dis`ac*knowl"edge (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disacknowledged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disacknowledging.] To refuse to acknowledge; to deny; to disown. [Obs.] South.

Dis`ac*quaint" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + acquaint: cf. OF. desacointier.] To render unacquainted; to make unfamiliar. [Obs.]

While my sick heart With dismal smart Is disacquainted never.

Herrick.

Dis`ac*quaint"ance (?), n. Neglect of disuse of familiarity, or familiar acquaintance. [Obs.] South.

Dis*ac"ryl (?), n. [Pref. dis- (Gr. di`s- twice) + acrolein + -yl.] (Chem.) A white amorphous substance obtained as a polymeric modification of acrolein.

Dis`a*dorn" (?), v. t. To deprive of ornaments. Congreve.

Dis`ad*vance" (?; 61), v. t. & i. [Pref. dis- + advance: cf. OF. desavancier.] To draw back, or cause to draw back. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`ad*van"tage (?; 48, 61), n. [Cf. F. désavantage.] 1. Deprivation of advantage; unfavorable or prejudicial quality, condition, circumstance, or the like; that which hinders success, or causes loss or injury.

I was brought here under the disadvantage of being unknown by sight to any of you.

Burke.

Abandoned by their great patron, the faction henceforward acted at disadvantage.

Palfrey.

2. Loss; detriment; hindrance; prejudice to interest, fame, credit, profit, or other good.

They would throw a construction on his conduct, to his disadvantage before the public.

Bancroft.

Syn. -- Detriment; injury; hurt; loss; damage.

Dis`ad*van"tage, v. t. [Cf. F. désavantager.] To injure the interest of; to be detrimental to.

Dis`ad*van"tage*a*ble (?), a. Injurious; disadvantageous. [Obs.] Bacon.

Dis*ad`van*ta"geous (?), a. [Cf. F. désavantageux.] Attended with disadvantage; unfavorable to success or prosperity; inconvenient; prejudicial; -- opposed to advantageous; as, the situation of an army is disadvantageous for attack or defense.

Even in the disadvantageous position in which he had been placed, he gave clear indications of future excellence.

Prescott.

-- Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ly, adv. -- Dis*ad`van*ta"geous*ness, n.

Dis`ad*ven"ture (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + adventure: cf. OF. desaventure.] Misfortune; mishap. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

Dis`ad*ven"tur*ous (?), a. Unprosperous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`ad*vise" (?), v. t. To advise against; to dissuade from. [R.] Boyle.

Dis`af*fect" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disaffected; p. pr. & vb. n. Disaffecting.] 1. To alienate or diminish the affection of; to make unfriendly or less friendly; to fill with discontent and unfriendliness.

They had attempted to disaffect and discontent his majesty's late army.

Clarendon.

2. To disturb the functions of; to disorder.

It disaffects the bowels.

Hammond.

3. To lack affection for; to be alienated from, or indisposed toward; to dislike. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

Dis`af*fect"ed, a. Alienated in feeling; not wholly loyal. J. H. Newman. -- Dis`af*fect"ed*ly, adv. -- Dis`af*fect"ed*ness, n.

Dis`af*fec"tion (?), n. 1. State of being disaffected; alienation or want of affection or good will, esp. toward those in authority; unfriendliness; dislike.

In the making laws, princes must have regard to . . . the affections and disaffections of the people.

Jer. Taylor.

2. Disorder; bad constitution. [R.] Wiseman.

Syn. -- Dislike; disgust; discontent; unfriendliness; alienation; disloyalty; hostility.

Dis`af*fec"tion*ate (?), a. Not disposed to affection; unfriendly; disaffected. [R.] Blount.

Dis`af*firm" (?), v. t. 1. To assert the contrary of; to contradict; to deny; -- said of that which has been asserted.

2. (Law) To refuse to confirm; to annul, as a judicial decision, by a contrary judgment of a superior tribunal.

Dis`af*firm"ance (?), n. 1. The act of disaffirming; denial; negation.

2. (Law) Overthrow or annulment by the decision of a superior tribunal; as, disaffirmance of judgment.

Dis*af`fir*ma"tion (?), n. The act of disaffirming; negation; refutation.

Dis`af*for"est (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disafforested; p. pr. & vb. n. Disafforesting.] [Pref. dis- + afforest: cf. OF. desaforester.] (Eng. Law) To reduce from the privileges of a forest to the state of common ground; to exempt from forest laws.

By charter 9 Henry III. many forests were disafforested.

Blackstone.

<! p. 418 !>

Dis*ag"gre*gate (?), v. t. To destroy the aggregation of; to separate into component parts, as an aggregate mass.

Dis*ag`gre*ga"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. désagrégation.] The separation of an aggregate body into its component parts.

Dis`a*gree" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disagreed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disageeing.] [Pref. dis- + agree: cf. F. désagréer to displease.] 1. To fail to accord; not to agree; to lack harmony; to differ; to be unlike; to be at variance.

They reject the plainest sense of Scripture, because it seems to disagree with what they call reason.

Atterbury.

2. To differ in opinion; to hold discordant views; to be at controversy; to quarrel.

Who shall decide, when doctors disagree?

Pope.

3. To be unsuited; to have unfitness; as, medicine sometimes disagrees with the patient; food often disagrees with the stomach or the taste.

Usually followed by with, sometimes by to, rarely by from; as, I disagree to your proposal.

Syn. -- To differ; vary; dissent.

Dis`a*gree"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. F. désagréable.] 1. Not agreeable, conformable, or congruous; contrary; unsuitable.

Preach you truly the doctrine which you have received, and each nothing that is disagreeable thereunto.

Udall.

2. Exciting repugnance; offensive to the feelings or senses; displeasing; unpleasant.

That which is disagreeable to one is many times agreeable to another, or disagreeable in a less degree.

Wollaston.

Dis`a*gree"a*ble*ness, n. The state or quality of being; disagreeable; unpleasantness.

Dis`a*gree"a*bly, adv. In a disagreeable manner; unsuitably; offensively.

Dis`a*gree"ance (?), n. Disagreement. [Obs.]

Dis`a*gree"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. désagrément disagreeable circumstance, disagreeableness.] 1. The state of disagreeing; a being at variance; dissimilitude; diversity.

2. Unsuitableness; unadaptedness. [R.]

3. Difference of opinion or sentiment.

4. A falling out, or controversy; difference.

Syn. -- Difference; diversity; dissimilitude; unlikeness; discrepancy; variance; dissent; misunderstanding; dissension; division; dispute; jar; wrangle; discord.

Dis`a*gre"er (?), n. One who disagrees. Hammond.

Dis`al*liege" (?), v. t. To alienate from allegiance. [Obs. & R.] Milton.

Dis`al*low" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disallowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disallowing.] [Pref. dis- + allow: cf. OF. desalouer, desloer, to blame, dissuade.] To refuse to allow; to deny the force or validity of; to disown and reject; as, the judge disallowed the executor's charge.

To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God.

1 Pet. ii. 4.

That the edicts of Cæsar we may at all times disallow, but the statutes of God for no reason we may reject.

Milton.

This verb was sometimes followed by of; as, "What follows, if we disallow of this?" Shak. See Allow.

Syn. -- To disapprove; prohibit; censure; reject.

Dis`al*low"a*ble (?), a. Not allowable; not to be suffered. Raleigh. -- Dis`al*low"a*ble*ness, n.

Dis`al*low"ance (?), n. The act of disallowing; refusal to admit or permit; rejection.

Syn. -- Disapprobation; prohibition; condemnation; censure; rejection.

Dis`al*ly" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + ally: cf. F. désaltier.] To part, as an alliance; to sunder. [R.] "Disallied their nuptials." Milton.

Dis*an"chor (?), v. t. & i. [Pref. dis- + anchor: cf. F. désancrer.] To raise the anchor of, as a ship; to weigh anchor. [Obs.] Heywood.

Dis`an*gel"ic*al (?), a. Not angelical. [R.] "Disangelical nature." Coventry.

Dis*an"i*mate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disanimated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disanimating (?).] 1. To deprive of life. [R.] Cudworth.

2. To deprive of spirit; to dishearten. Shak.

Dis*an`i*ma"tion (?), n. 1. Privation of life. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

2. The state of being disanimated or discouraged; depression of spirits.

Dis`an*nex" (?), v. t. To disunite; to undo or repeal the annexation of. State Trials (1608).

Dis`an*nul" (?), v. t. To annul completely; to render void or of no effect.

For the Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it?

Isaiah xiv. 27.

The prefix in this word an its derivatives is intensive, and not negative.

Dis`an*nul"ler (?), n. One who disannuls.

Dis`an*nul"ment (?), n. Complete annulment.

Dis`a*noint" (?), v. t. To invalidate the consecration of; as, to disanoint a king. [Obs.] Milton.

Dis`ap*par"el (?), v. t. [See Apparel, v. t.] [Pref. dis- + apparel: cf. OF. desapareiller.] To disrobe; to strip of apparel; to make naked.

Drink disapparels the soul.

Junius (1635).

Dis`ap*pear" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Disappeared (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disappearing.] 1. To cease to appear or to be perceived; to pass from view, gradually or suddenly; to vanish; to be no longer seen; as, darkness disappears at the approach of light; a ship disappears as she sails from port.

2. To cease to be or exist; as, the epidemic has disappeared.

Dis`ap*pear"ance (?), n. The act of disappearing; cessation of appearance; removal from sight; vanishing. Addison.

Dis`ap*pend"en*cy (?), n. A detachment or separation from a former connection. [R.]

Dis`ap*pend"ent (?), a. Freed from a former connection or dependence; disconnected. [R.]

Dis`ap*point" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapointed; p. pr. & vb. n. Disappointing.] [OF. desapointier, F. désappointer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + apointier, F. appointier, to appoint. See Appoint.] 1. To defeat of expectation or hope; to hinder from the attainment of that which was expected, hoped, or desired; to balk; as, a man is disappointed of his hopes or expectations, or his hopes, desires, intentions, expectations, or plans are disappointed; a bad season disappoints the farmer of his crops; a defeat disappoints an enemy of his spoil.

I was disappointed, but very agreeably.

Macaulay.

Disappointed of a thing not obtained; disappointed in a thing obtained.

2. To frustrate; to fail; to hinder of result.

His retiring foe Shrinks from the wound, and disappoints the blow.

Addison.

Syn. -- To tantalize; fail; frustrate; balk; baffle; delude; foil; defeat. See Tantalize.

Dis`ap*point"ed, a. 1. Defeated of expectation or hope; balked; as, a disappointed person or hope.

2. Unprepared; unequipped. [Obs.]

Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhouseled, disappointed, unaneled.

Shak.

Dis`ap*point"ment (?), n. [Cf. F. désappointement.] 1. The act of disappointing, or the state of being disappointed; defeat or failure of expectation or hope; miscarriage of design or plan; frustration.

If we hope for things of which we have not thoroughly considered the value, our disappointment will be greater than our pleasure in the fruition of them.

Addison.

In disappointment thou canst bless.

Keble.

2. That which disappoints.

Syn. -- Miscarriage; frustration; balk.

Dis`ap*pre"ci*ate (?), v. t. [See Appreciate.] To undervalue; not to esteem. -- Dis`ap*pre`ci*a"tion (#), n.

Dis*ap`pro*ba"tion (?), n. [Pref. dis- + approbation: cf. F. désapprobation. Cf. Disapprove.] The act of disapproving; mental condemnation of what is judged wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; feeling of censure.

We have ever expressed the most unqualified disapprobation of all the steps.

Burke.

Dis*ap"pro*ba`to*ry (?), a. Containing disapprobation; serving to disapprove.

Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate (?), a. (Law) Severed from the appropriation or possession of a spiritual corporation.

The appropriation may be severed, and the church become disappropriate, two ways.

Blackstone.

Dis`ap*pro"pri*ate (?), v. t. 1. To release from individual ownership or possession. Milton.

2. (Law) To sever from appropriation or possession a spiritual corporation.

Appropriations of the several parsonages . . . would heave been, by the rules of the common law, disappropriated.

Blackstone.

Dis`ap*pro`pri*a"tion (?), n. The act of disappropriating.

Dis`ap*prov"al (?), n. Disapprobation; dislike; censure; adverse judgment.

Dis`ap*prove (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disapproved (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disapproving.] [Pref. dis- + approve: cf. F. déapprouver. Cf. Disapprobation.] 1. To pass unfavorable judgment upon; to condemn by an act of the judgment; to regard as wrong, unsuitable, or inexpedient; to censure; as, to disapprove the conduct of others.

2. To refuse official approbation to; to disallow; to decline to sanction; as, the sentence of the court- martial was disapproved by the commander in chief.

This verb is often followed by of; as, to disapprove of an opinion, of such conduct. See Approve.

Dis`ap*prov"er (?), n. One who disapproves.

Dis`ap*prov"ing*ly, adv. In a disapproving manner.

Dis"ard (?), n. See Dizzard. [Obs.] Burton.

Dis*arm" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarming (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disarming.] [OE. desarmen, F. désarmer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + armer to arm. See Arm.] 1. To deprive of arms; to take away the weapons of; to deprive of the means of attack or defense; to render defenseless.

Security disarms the best-appointed army.

Fuller.

The proud was half disarmed of pride.

Tennyson.

2. To deprive of the means or the disposition to harm; to render harmless or innocuous; as, to disarm a man's wrath.

Dis*arm"a*ment (?), n. [Cf. F. désarmement.] The act of disarming.

Dis*ar"ma*ture (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + armature.] The act of divesting of armature. [R.]

Dis*armed" (?), a. 1. Deprived of arms.

2. (Her.) Deprived of claws, and teeth or beaks. Cussans.

Dis*arm"er (?), n. One who disarms.

Dis`ar*range" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarranged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disarranging.] [Pref. dis- + arrange: cf. F. désarranger.] To unsettle or disturb the order or due arrangement of; to throw out of order.

Dis`ar*range"ment (?), n. The act of disarranging, or the state of being disarranged; confusion; disorder. Cowper.

Dis`ar*ray" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disarrayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disarraying.] [Pref. dis- + array, v.: cf. OF. desarroyer, desarreier.] 1. To throw into disorder; to break the array of.

Who with fiery steeds Oft disarrayed the foes in battle ranged.

Fenton.

2. To take off the dress of; to unrobe.

So, as she bade, the witch they disarrayed.

Spenser.

Dis`ar*ray" (?), n. [Cf. F. désarroi.] 1. Want of array or regular order; disorder; confusion.

Disrank the troops, set all in disarray.

Daniel.

2. Confused attire; undress. Spenser.

Dis`ar*ray"ment (?), n. Disorder. [R.] Feltham.

Dis`ar*tic"u*late (?), v. t. To sunder; to separate, as joints. -- Dis`ar*tic`u*la"tion (#), n.

Dis`ar*tic"u*la`tor (?), n. One who disarticulates and prepares skeletons.

Dis`as*sent" (?), v. i. To dissent. [Obs.]

Dis`as*sent", n. Dissent. [Obs.] E. Hall.

Dis`as*sent"er (?), n. One who disassents; a dissenter. [Obs.] State Trials (1634).

Dis*as`si*du"i*ty (?), n. Want of assiduity or care. [R.] Sir H. Wotton.

Dis`as*sim"i*late (?), v. t. (Physiol.) To subject to disassimilation.

Dis`as*sim`i*la"tion (?), n. (Physics) The decomposition of complex substances, within the organism, into simpler ones suitable only for excretion, with evolution of energy, -- a normal nutritional process the reverse of assimilation; downward metabolism.

The breaking down of already existing chemical compounds into simpler ones, sometimes called disassimilation.

Martin.

Dis`as*sim"i*la*tive (?), a. (Physiol.) Having power to disassimilate; of the nature of disassimilation.

Disassimilative processes constitute a marked feature in the life of animal cells.

McKendrick.

Dis`as*so"ci*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disassociated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disassociating (?).] To disconnect from things associated; to disunite; to dissociate. Florio.

Dis*as"ter (?), n. [F. désastre; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + astre star, fr. L. astrum; a word of astrological origin. See Aster, Astral, Star.] 1. An unpropitious or baleful aspect of a planet or star; malevolent influence of a heavenly body; hence, an ill portent. [Obs.]

Disasters in the sun.

Shak.

2. An adverse or unfortunate event, esp. a sudden and extraordinary misfortune; a calamity; a serious mishap.

But noble souls, through dust and heat, Rise from disaster and defeat The stronger.

Longfellow.

Syn. -- Calamity; misfortune; mishap; mischance; visitation; misadventure; ill luck. See Calamity.

Dis*as"ter, v. t. 1. To blast by the influence of a baleful star. [Obs.] Sir P. Sidney.

2. To bring harm upon; to injure. [R.] Thomson.

Dis*as"ter*ly, adv. Disastrously. [Obs.] Drayton.

Dis*as"trous (?), a. [Cf. F. désastreux. See Disaster.] 1. Full of unpropitious stellar influences; unpropitious; ill- boding. [Obs.]

The moon In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds.

Milton.

2. Attended with suffering or disaster; very unfortunate; calamitous; ill-fated; as, a disastrous day; a disastrous termination of an undertaking.

Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances.

Shak.

-- Dis*as"trous*ly, adv. -- Dis*as"trous*ness, n.

Dis`at*tire" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + attire: cf. OF. desatirier.] To unrobe; to undress. Spenser.

Dis`aug*ment" (?), v. t. To diminish. [R.]

Dis*au"thor*ize (?), v. t. To deprive of credit or authority; to discredit. [R.] W. Wotton.

Dis`a*vaunce" (?), v. t. [Cf. Disadvance.] To retard; to repel; to do damage to. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis`a*ven"ture (?; 135), n. [See Disadventure, Adventure.] Misfortune. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`a*ven"tur*ous (?), a. Misadventurous; unfortunate. [Obs.] Spenser.

Dis`a*vouch" (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + avouch. Cf. Disavow.] To disavow. [R.] Daniel.

Dis`a*vow" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disavowed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Disavowing.] [F. désavouer; pref. dés- (L. dis-) + avouer to avow. See Avow, and cf. Disavouch.] 1. To refuse strongly and solemnly to own or acknowledge; to deny responsibility for, approbation of, and the like; to disclaim; to disown; as, he was charged with embezzlement, but he disavows the crime.

A solemn promise made and disavowed.

Dryden.

2. To deny; to show the contrary of; to disprove.

Yet can they never Toss into air the freedom of my birth, Or disavow my blood Plantagenet's.

Ford.

Dis`a*vow"al (?), n. The act of disavowing, disclaiming, or disowning; rejection and denial.

An earnest disavowal of fear often proceeds from fear.

Richardson.

Dis`a*vow"ance (?), n. Disavowal. [Obs.] South.

Dis`a*vow"er (?), n. One who disavows.

Dis`a*vow"ment (?), n. Disavowal. [R.] Wotton.