Chapter 39

Dis*coun"te*nance (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discountenanced (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discountenancing (?).] [Pref. dis- + countenance: cf. OF. descontenancer, F. décontenancer.] 1. To ruffle or discompose the countenance of; to put of countenance; to put to shame; to abash.

How would one look from his majestic brow . . . Discountenance her despised!

Milton.

The hermit was somewhat discountenanced by this observation.

Sir W. Scott.

2. To refuse to countenance, or give the support of one's approval to; to give one's influence against; to restrain by cold treatment; to discourage.

A town meeting was convened to discountenance riot.

Bancroft.

Dis*coun"te*nance, n. Unfavorable aspect; unfriendly regard; cold treatment; disapprobation; whatever tends to check or discourage.

He thought a little discountenance on those persons would suppress that spirit.

Clarendon.

Dis*coun"te*nan*cer (?), n. One who discountenances; one who disfavors. Bacon.

Dis"count`er (?), n. One who discounts; a discount broker. Burke.

Dis*cour"age (?; 48), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discouraged (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discouraging (?).] [Pref. dis- + courage: cf. OF. descoragier, F. décourager: pref. des- (L. dis-) + corage, F. courage. See Courage.] 1. To extinguish the courage of; to dishearten; to depress the spirits of; to deprive of confidence; to deject; -- the opposite of encourage; as, he was discouraged in his undertaking; he need not be discouraged from a like attempt.

Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

Col. iii. 21.

2. To dishearten one with respect to; to discountenance; to seek to check by disfavoring; to deter one from; as, they discouraged his efforts.

Syn. -- To dishearten; dispirit; depress; deject; dissuade; disfavor.

Dis*cour"age, n. Lack of courage; cowardliness.

Dis*cour"age*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being discouraged; easily disheartened. Bp. Hall.

Dis*cour"age*ment (?), n. [Cf. OF. descouragement, F. découragement.] 1. The act of discouraging, or the state of being discouraged; depression or weakening of confidence; dejection.

2. That which discourages; that which deters, or tends to deter, from an undertaking, or from the prosecution of anything; a determent; as, the revolution was commenced under every possible discouragement. "Discouragements from vice." Swift.

Dis*cour"a*ger (?), n. One who discourages.

The promoter of truth and the discourager of error.

Sir G. C. Lewis.

Dis*cour"a*ging (?), a. Causing or indicating discouragement. -- Dis*cour"a*ging*ly, adv.

Dis*coure" (?), v. t. To discover. [Obs.]

That none might her discoure.

Spenser.

Dis*course" (?), n. [L. discursus a running to and fro, discourse, fr. discurrere, discursum, to run to and fro, to discourse; dis- + currere to run: cf. F. discours. See Course.] 1. The power of the mind to reason or infer by running, as it were, from one fact or reason to another, and deriving a conclusion; an exercise or act of this power; reasoning; range of reasoning faculty. [Obs.]

Difficult, strange, and harsh to the discourses of natural reason.

South.

Sure he that made us with such large discourse, Looking before and after, gave us not That capability and godlike reason To fust in us unused.

Shak.

2. Conversation; talk.

In their discourses after supper.

Shak.

Filling the head with variety of thoughts, and the mouth with copious discourse.

Locke.

3. The art and manner of speaking and conversing.

Of excellent breeding, admirable discourse.

Shak.

4. Consecutive speech, either written or unwritten, on a given line of thought; speech; treatise; dissertation; sermon, etc.; as, the preacher gave us a long discourse on duty.

5. Dealing; transaction. [Obs.]

Good Captain Bessus, tell us the discourse Betwixt Tigranes and our king, and how We got the victory.

Beau. & Fl.

Dis*course" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Discoursed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discoursing.] 1. To exercise reason; to employ the mind in judging and inferring; to reason. [Obs.] "Have sense or can discourse." Dryden.

2. To express one's self in oral discourse; to expose one's views; to talk in a continuous or formal manner; to hold forth; to speak; to converse.

Bid me discourse, I will enchant thine ear.

Shak.

3. To relate something; to tell. Shak.

4. To treat of something in writing and formally.

Dis*course", v. t. 1. To treat of; to expose or set forth in language. [Obs.]

The life of William Tyndale . . . is sufficiently and at large discoursed in the book.

Foxe.

2. To utter or give forth; to speak.

It will discourse most eloquent music.

Shak.

3. To talk to; to confer with. [Obs.]

I have spoken to my brother, who is the patron, to discourse the minister about it.

Evelyn.

Dis*cours"er (?), n. 1. One who discourse; a narrator; a speaker; an haranguer.

In his conversation he was the most clear discourser.

Milward.

2. The writer of a treatise or dissertation.

Philologers and critical discoursers.

Sir T. Browne.

Dis*cours"ive (?), a. [See Discursive.] 1. Reasoning; characterized by reasoning; passing from premises to consequences; discursive. Milton.

2. Containing dialogue or conversation; interlocutory.

The epic is everywhere interlaced with dialogue or discoursive scenes.

Dryden.

3. Inclined to converse; conversable; communicative; as, a discoursive man. [R.]

Dis*cours"ive, n. The state or quality of being discoursive or able to reason. [R.] Feltham.

Dis*cour"te*ous (?; see Courteous, 277), a. [Pref. dis- + courteous: cf. OF. discortois.] Uncivil; rude; wanting in courtesy or good manners; uncourteous. -- Dis*cour"te*ous*ly, adv. -- Dis*cour"te*ous*ness, n.

Dis*cour"te*sy (?), n. [Pref. dis- + courtesy: cf. OF. descourtoisie.] Rudeness of behavior or language; ill manners; manifestation of disrespect; incivility.

Be calm in arguing; for fierceness makes Error a fault, and truth discourtesy.

Herbert.

Dis*court"ship (?), n. Want of courtesy. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Disc"ous (?), a. [L. discus disk. See Disk.] Disklike; discoid.

Dis*cov"e*nant (?), v. t. To dissolve covenant with.

Dis*cov"er (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discovered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discovering.] [OE. discoveren, discuren, descuren, OF. descovrir, descouvrir, F. découvrir; des- (L. dis-) + couvrir to cover. See Cover.] 1. To uncover. [Obs.]

Whether any man hath pulled down or discovered any church.

Abp. Grindal.

2. To disclose; to lay open to view; to make visible; to reveal; to make known; to show (what has been secret, unseen, or unknown).

Go, draw aside the curtains, and discover The several caskets to this noble prince.

Shak.

Prosperity doth best discover vice; but adversity doth best discover virtue.

Bacon.

We will discover ourselves unto them.

1 Sam. xiv. 8.

Discover not a secret to another.

Prov. xxv. 9.

3. To obtain for the first time sight or knowledge of, as of a thing existing already, but not perceived or known; to find; to ascertain; to espy; to detect.

Some to discover islands far away.

Shak.

4. To manifest without design; to show.

The youth discovered a taste for sculpture.

C. J. Smith.

5. To explore; to examine. [Obs.]

Syn. -- To disclose; bring out; exhibit; show; manifest; reveal; communicate; impart; tell; espy; find; out; detect. -- To Discover, Invent. We discover what existed before, but remained unknown; we invent by forming combinations which are either entirely new, or which attain their end by means unknown before. Columbus discovered America; Newton discovered the law of gravitation; Whitney invented the cotton gin; Galileo invented the telescope.

Dis*cov"er, v. i. To discover or show one's self. [Obs.]

This done, they discover.

Decker.

Nor was this the first time that they discovered to be followers of this world.

Milton.

Dis*cov`er*a*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being discoverable. [R.] Carlyle.

Dis*cov"er*a*ble (?), a. Capable of being discovered, found out, or perceived; as, many minute animals are discoverable only by the help of the microscope; truths discoverable by human industry.

Dis*cov"er*er (?), n. 1. One who discovers; one who first comes to the knowledge of something; one who discovers an unknown country, or a new principle, truth, or fact.

The discoverers and searchers of the land.

Sir W. Raleigh.

2. A scout; an explorer. Shak.

Dis*cov"er*ment, n. Discovery. [Obs.]

Dis*cov"ert (?), a. [Cf. F. découvert uncovered, OF. descovert. See Discover, Covert.] (Law) Not covert; not within the bonds of matrimony; unmarried; -- applied either to a woman who has never married or to a widow.

Dis*cov"ert, n. An uncovered place or part. [Obs.]

At discovert, uncovered. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*cov"er*ture (?; 135), n. [Pref. dis- + coverture: cf. OF. descoverture.] 1. Discovery. [Obs.]

2. (Law) A state of being released from coverture; freedom of a woman from the coverture of a husband.

Dis*cov"er*y (?), n.; pl. Discoveries (&?;). 1. The action of discovering; exposure to view; laying open; showing; as, the discovery of a plot.

2. A making known; revelation; disclosure; as, a bankrupt is bound to make a full discovery of his assets.

In the clear discoveries of the next [world].

South.

3. Finding out or ascertaining something previously unknown or unrecognized; as, Harvey's discovery of the circulation of the blood.

A brilliant career of discovery and conquest.

Prescott.

We speak of the "invention" of printing, the discovery of America.

Trench.

4. That which is discovered; a thing found out, or for the first time ascertained or recognized; as, the properties of the magnet were an important discovery.

5. Exploration; examination. [Obs.]

Dis*cra"dle (?), v. t. To take from a cradle. [R.]

This airy apparition first discradled From Tournay into Portugal.

Ford.

Dis*cred"it (?), n. [Cf. F. discrédit.] 1. The act of discrediting or disbelieving, or the state of being discredited or disbelieved; as, later accounts have brought the story into discredit.

2. Hence, some degree of dishonor or disesteem; ill repute; reproach; -- applied to persons or things.

It is the duty of every Christian to be concerned for the reputation or discredit his life may bring on his profession.

Rogers.

Syn. -- Disesteem; disrepute; dishonor; disgrace; ignominy; scandal; disbelief; distrust.

Dis*cred"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discredited; p. pr. & vb. n. Discrediting.] [Cf. F. discréditer.] 1. To refuse credence to; not to accept as true; to disbelieve; as, the report is discredited.

2. To deprive of credibility; to destroy confidence or trust in; to cause disbelief in the accuracy or authority of.

An occasion might be given to the . . . papists of discrediting our common English Bible.

Strype.

2. To deprive of credit or good repute; to bring reproach upon; to make less reputable; to disgrace.

He. . . least discredits his travels who returns the same man he went.

Sir H. Wotton.

Dis*cred"it*a*ble (?), a. Not creditable; injurious to reputation; disgraceful; disreputable. -- Dis*cred"it*a*bly, adv.

Dis*cred"it*or (?), n. One who discredits.

Dis*creet" (?), a. [Compar. Discreeter (?); superl. Discreetest.] [F. discret, L. discretus separated (whence the meaning reserved, prudent), p. p. of discernere. See Discern, and cf. Discrete.] 1. Possessed of discernment, especially in avoiding error or evil, and in the adaptation of means to ends; prudent; sagacious; judicious; not rash or heedless; cautious.

It is the discreet man, not the witty, nor the learned, nor the brave, who guides the conversation, and gives measures to society.

Addison.

Satire 's my weapon, but I 'm too discreet To run amuck, and tilt at all I meet.

Pope.

The sea is silent, the sea is discreet.

Longfellow.

2. Differing; distinct. [Obs.] Spenser.

-- Dis*creet"ly, adv. -- Dis*creet"ness, n.

{ Dis*crep"ance (?; 277), Dis*crep"an*cy (?), } n.; pl. -ances (#), -ancies (#). [L. disrepantia: cf. OF. discrepance. See Discrepant.] The state or quality of being discrepant; disagreement; variance; discordance; dissimilarity; contrariety.

There hath been ever a discrepance of vesture of youth and age, men and women.

Sir T. Elyot.

There is no real discrepancy between these two genealogies.

G. S. Faber.

Dis*crep"ant (?), a. [L. discrepans, -antis, p. pr. of discrepare to sound differently or discordantly; dis- + crepare to rattle, creak: cf. OF. discrepant. See Crepitate.] Discordant; at variance; disagreeing; contrary; different.

The Egyptians were . . . the most oddly discrepant from the rest in their manner of worship.

Cudworth.

Dis*crep"ant, n. A dissident. J. Taylor.

Dis*crete" (?), a. [L. discretus, p. p. of discernere. See Discreet.] 1. Separate; distinct; disjunct. Sir M. Hale.

2. Disjunctive; containing a disjunctive or discretive clause; as, "I resign my life, but not my honor," is a discrete proposition.

3. (Bot.) Separate; not coalescent; -- said of things usually coalescent.

Discrete movement. See Concrete movement of the voice, under Concrete, a. -- Discrete proportion, proportion where the ratio of the means is different from that of either couplet; as, 3:6::8:16, 3 bearing the same proportion to 6 as 8 does to 16. But 3 is not to 6 as 6 to 8. It is thus opposed to continued or continual proportion; as, 3:6::12:24. -- Discrete quantity, that which must be divided into units, as number, and is opposed to continued quantity, as duration, or extension.

Dis*crete", v. t. To separate. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*crete"ly, adv. Separately; disjunctively.

Dis*cre"tion (?), n. [F. discrétion, L. discretio separation, difference, discernment, fr. discernere, discretum. See Discreet, Discern.] 1. Disjunction; separation. [Obs.] Mede.

2. The quality of being discreet; wise conduct and management; cautious discernment, especially as to matters of propriety and self-control; prudence; circumspection; wariness.

The better part of valor is discretion.

Shak.

The greatest parts without discretion may be fatal to their owner.

Hume.

3. Discrimination.

Well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.

Shak.

4. Freedom to act according to one's own judgment; unrestrained exercise of choice or will.

At discretion, without conditions or stipulations.

<! p. 423 !>

{ Dis*cre"tion*al (?), Dis*cre"tion*a*ry (?), }[Cf. F. discrétionnaire.] Left to discretion; unrestrained except by discretion or judgment; as, an ambassador with discretionary powers.

{ Dis*cre"tion*al*ly (?), Dis*cre"tion*a*ri*ly (?), } adv. At discretion; according to one's discretion or judgment.

Dis*cre"tive (?), a. [L. discretivus. See Discrete.] Marking distinction or separation; disjunctive.

Discretive proposition (Logic & Gram.), one that expresses distinction, opposition, or variety, by means of discretive particles, as but, though, yet, etc.; as, travelers change their climate, but not their temper.

Dis*cre"tive*ly, adv. In a discretive manner.

Dis*crim"i*na*ble (?), a. Capable of being discriminated. [Obs.] Bailey.

Dis*crim"i*nal (?), a. [L. discriminalis serving to divide.] In palmistry, applied to the line which marks the separation between the hand and the arm.

Dis*crim"i*nant (?), n. [L. discriminans, p. pr. of discriminare.] (Math.) The eliminant of the n partial differentials of any homogenous function of n variables. See Eliminant.

Dis*crim"i*nate (?), a. [L. discriminatus, p. p. of discriminare to divide, separate, fr. discrimen division, distinction, decision, fr. discernere. See Discern, and cf. Criminate.] Having the difference marked; distinguished by certain tokens. Bacon.

Dis*crim"i*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discriminated (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discriminating (?).] To set apart as being different; to mark as different; to separate from another by discerning differences; to distinguish. Cowper.

To discriminate the goats from the sheep.

Barrow.

Dis*crim"i*nate (?), v. i. 1. To make a difference or distinction; to distinguish accurately; as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.

2. (a) To treat unequally. (b) (Railroads) To impose unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.

Dis*crim"i*nate*ly (?), adv. In a discriminating manner; distinctly.

Dis*crim"i*nate*ness, n. The state of being discriminated; distinctness.

Dis*crim"i*na`ting (?), a. Marking a difference; distinguishing. -- Dis*crim"i*na`ting*ly, adv.

And finds with keen discriminating sight, Black's not so black; -- nor white so very white.

Canning.

Dis*crim`i*na"tion (?), n. [L. discriminatio the contrasting of opposite thoughts.] 1. The act of discriminating, distinguishing, or noting and marking differences.

To make an anxious discrimination between the miracle absolute and providential.

Trench.

2. The state of being discriminated, distinguished, or set apart. Sir J. Reynolds.

3. (Railroads) The arbitrary imposition of unequal tariffs for substantially the same service.

A difference in rates, not based upon any corresponding difference in cost, constitutes a case of discrimination.

A. T. Hadley.

4. The quality of being discriminating; faculty of nicely distinguishing; acute discernment; as, to show great discrimination in the choice of means.

5. That which discriminates; mark of distinction.

Syn. -- Discernment; penetration; clearness; acuteness; judgment; distinction. See Discernment.

Dis*crim"i*na*tive (?), a. 1. Marking a difference; distinguishing; distinctive; characteristic.

That peculiar and discriminative form of life.

Johnson.

2. Observing distinctions; making differences; discriminating. "Discriminative censure." J. Foster. "Discriminative Providence." Dr. H. More.

Dis*crim"i*na*tive*ly, adv. With discrimination or distinction. J. Foster.

Dis*crim"i*na`tor (?), n. [LL.] One who discriminates.

Dis*crim"i*na*to*ry (?), a. Discriminative.

Dis*crim"i*nous (?), a. [LL. discriminosus, fr. L. discrimen the dangerous, decisive moment. See Discriminate, a.] Hazardous; dangerous. [Obs.] Harvey.

Dis*crive" (?), v. t. [OF. descrivre. See Describe.] To describe. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dis*crown" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discrowned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discrowning.] To deprive of a crown.

The end had crowned the work; it not unreasonably discrowned the workman.

Motley.

Dis*cru"ci*ate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discruciated; p. pr. & vb. n. Discruciating.] [L. discruciatus, p. p. of discruciare. See Cruciate.] To torture; to excruciate. [Obs.]

Discruciate a man in deep distress.

Herrick.

Dis*cu"bi*to*ry (?), a. [L. discumbere, discubitum, to lie down, recline at table; dis- + cumbere (in comp.) to lie down.] Leaning; fitted for a reclining posture. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dis*cul"pate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Disculpated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disculpating.] [LL. disculpatus, p. p. of disculpare to disculpate; dis- + L. culpare to blame, culpa fault.] To free from blame or the imputation of a fault; to exculpate.

I almost fear you think I begged it, but I can disculpate myself.

Walpole.

Dis`cul*pa"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. disculpation.] Exculpation. Burke.

Dis*cul"pa*to*ry (?), a. Tending to exculpate; exculpatory.

Dis*cum"ben*cy (?), n. [From L. discumbens, p. pr. of discumbere. See Discubitory.] The act of reclining at table according to the manner of the ancients at their meals. Sir T. Browne.

Dis*cum"ber (?), v. t. [Pref. dis- + cumber: cf. OF. descombrer.] To free from that which cumbers or impedes; to disencumber. [Archaic] Pope.

Dis*cure" (?), v. t. [See Discover.] To discover; to reveal; to discoure. [Obs.]

I will, if please you it discure, assay To ease you of that ill, so wisely as I may.

Spenser.

Dis*cur"rent (?), a. Not current or free to circulate; not in use. [Obs.] Sir E. Sandys.

Dis*cur"sion (?), n. [LL. discursio a running different ways. See Discourse.] The act of discoursing or reasoning; range, as from thought to thought. Coleridge.

Dis*cur"sist, n. A discourser. [Obs.] L. Addison.

Dis*cur"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. discursif. See Discourse, and cf. Discoursive.] 1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. "Discursive notices." De Quincey.

The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive.

Hazlitt.

A man rather tacit than discursive.

Carlyle.

2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative.

Reason is her being, Discursive or intuitive.

Milton.

-- Dis*cur"sive*ly, adv. -- Dis*cur"sive*ness, n.

Dis*cur`so*ry (?), a. Argumentative; discursive; reasoning. [R.] Bp. Hall.

Dis*cur"sus (?), n. [L.] (Logic) Argumentation; ratiocination; discursive reasoning.

Dis"cus (?), n.; pl. E. Discuses (#), L. Disci (#). [L. See Disk.] 1. (a) A quoit; a circular plate of some heavy material intended to be pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill. (b) The exercise with the discus.

This among the Greeks was one of the chief gymnastic exercises and was included in the Pentathlon (the contest of the five exercises). The chief contest was that of throwing the discus to the greatest possible distance.

2. A disk. See Disk.

Dis*cuss" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Discussed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Discussing.] [L. discussus, p. p. of discutere to strike asunder (hence came the sense to separate mentally, distinguish); dis- + quatere to shake, strike. See Quash.] 1. To break to pieces; to shatter. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

2. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors.

Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection.

Sir H. Wotton.

A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples.

Rambler.

3. To shake; to put away; to finish. [Obs.]

All regard of shame she had discussed.

Spenser.

4. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . . discussed the farm . . . and the price of grain." Tennyson. "To discuss questions of taste." Macaulay.

5. To deal with, in eating or drinking. [Colloq.]

We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us.

Sir S. Baker.

6. (Law) To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety. Burrill.

Syn. -- To Discuss, Examine, Debate. We speak of examining a subject when we ponder it with care, in order to discover its real state, or the truth respecting it. We speak of discussing a topic when we examine it thoroughly in its distinct parts. The word is very commonly applied to matters of opinion. We may discuss a subject without giving in an adhesion to any conclusion. We speak of debating a point when we examine it in mutual argumentation between opposing parties. In debate we contend for or against some conclusion or view.

Dis*cuss"er (?), n. One who discusses; one who sifts or examines. Wood.

Dis*cus"sion (?), n. [L. discussio a shaking, examination, discussion: cf. F. discussion.] 1. The act or process of discussing by breaking up, or dispersing, as a tumor, or the like.

2. The act of discussing or exchanging reasons; examination by argument; debate; disputation; agitation.

The liberty of discussion is the great safeguard of all other liberties.

Macaulay.

Discussion of a problem or an equation (Math.), the operation of assigning different reasonable values to the arbitrary quantities and interpreting the result. Math. Dict.

Dis*cus"sion*al (?), a. Pertaining to discussion.

Dis*cuss"ive (?), a. [Cf. F. discussif.] 1. (Med.) Able or tending to discuss or disperse tumors or coagulated matter.

2. Doubt-dispelling; decisive. [R.]

A kind of peremptory and discussive voice.

Hopkins.

Dis*cuss"ive, n. (Med.) A medicine that discusses or disperses morbid humors; a discutient.