Chapter CXXXII: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (41)

Defn: A person disseized, or put out of possession of an estate unlawfully; -- correlative to disseizor. [Written also disseisee.]

DISSEIZIN Dis*sei"zin, n. Etym: [OF. dessaisine.] (Law)

Defn: The act of disseizing; an unlawful dispossessing and ouster of a person actually seized of the freehold. [Written also disseisin.] Blackstone.

DISSEIZOR Dis*sei"zor, n. (Law)

Defn: One who wrongfully disseizes, or puts another out of possession of a freehold. [Written also disseisor.] Blackstone.

DISSEIZORESS Dis*sei"zor*ess, n. (Law)

Defn: A woman disseizes.

DISSEIZURE Dis*sei"zure, n.

Defn: Disseizin. Speed.

DISSEMBLANCE Dis*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Cf. F. dissemblance. See Dissemble.]

Defn: Want of resemblance; dissimilitude. [R.] Osborne.

DISSEMBLANCE Dis*sem"blance, n. Etym: [Dissemble + -ance.]

Defn: The act or art of dissembling; dissimulation. [Obs.]

DISSEMBLE Dis*sem"ble, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissembled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissembling.] Etym: [OF. dissembler to be dissimilar; pref. dis- (L. dis-) + F. sembler to seem, L. simulare to simulate; cf. L. dissimulare to dissemble. See Simulate, and cf. Dissimulate.]

1. To hide under a false semblance or seeming; to feign (something) not to be what it really is; to put an untrue appearance upon; to disguise; to mask. Dissemble all your griefs and discontents. Shak. Perhaps it was right to dissemble your love, But -- why did you kick me down stairs J. P. Kemble.

2. To put on the semblance of; to make pretense of; to simulate; to feign. He soon dissembled a sleep. Tatler.

Syn. -- To conceal; disguise; cloak; cover; equivocate. See Conceal.

DISSEMBLE Dis*sem"ble, v. i.

Defn: To conceal the real fact, motives, He that hateth dissembleth with his lips. Prov. xxvi. 24. He [an enemy] dissembles when he assumes an air of friendship. C. J. Smith.

DISSEMBLER Dis*sem"bler, n.

Defn: One who dissembles; one who conceals his opinions or dispositions under a false appearance; a hypocrite. It is the weakest sort of politicians that are the greatest dissemblers. Bacon. Priests, princes, women, no dissemblers here. Pope.

Syn. -- Dissembler, Hypocrite. A person is called a dissembler with reference to his concealment of his real character, and a hypocrite with reference to his assumption of a false character. But hypocrite is the stronger word, being commonly used to characterize a person who is habitually insincere and false, especially one who makes professions of goodness when his aims are selfish and his life corrupt.

DISSEMBLING Dis*sem"bling, a.

Defn: That dissembles; hypocritical; false. -- Dis*sem"bling*ly, adv.

DISSEMINATE Dis*sem"i*nate, v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Disseminated; p. pr. & vb. n. Disseminating.] Etym: [L. disseminatus, p. p. of disseminare to disseminate; dis- + seminare to sow, semen seed. See Seminary.]

1. To sow broadcast or as seed; to scatter for growth and propagation, like seed; to spread abroad; to diffuse; as, principles, ideas, opinions, and errors are disseminated when they are spread abroad for propagation.

2. To spread or extend by dispersion. A nearly uniform and constant fire or heat disseminated throughout the body of the earth. Woodward.

Syn. -- To spread; diffuse; propagate; circulate; disperse; scatter.

DISSEMINATED Dis*sem"i*na`ted, p. a. (Min.)

Defn: Occurring in small portions scattered through some other substance.

DISSEMINATION Dis*sem`i*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. disseminatio: cf. F. dissémination.]

Defn: The act of disseminating, or the state of being disseminated; diffusion for propagation and permanence; a scattering or spreading abroad, as of ideas, beliefs, etc. The universal dissemination of those writings. Wayland.

DISSEMINATIVE Dis*sem"i*na*tive, a.

Defn: Tending to disseminate, or to become disseminated. The effect of heresy is, like the plague, infectious and disseminative. Jer. Taylor.

DISSEMINATOR Dis*sem"i*na`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who, or that which, disseminates, spreads, or propagates; as, disseminators of disease.

DISSENSION Dis*sen"sion, n. Etym: [L. dissensio: cf. F. dissension. See Dissent.]

Defn: Disagreement in opinion, usually of a violent character, producing warm debates or angry words; contention in words; partisan and contentious divisions; breach of friendship and union; strife; discord; quarrel. Paul and Barnabas had no small dissension and disputation with them. Acts xv. 2. Debates, dissension, uproars are thy joy. Dryden. A seditious person and raiser-up of dissension among the people. Robynson (More's Utopia).

DISSENSIOUS Dis*sen"sious, a.

Defn: Disposed to discord; contentious; dissentious. [R.] Ascham. -- Dis*sen"sious*ly, adv. Chapman.

DISSENT Dis*sent", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dissented; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissenting.] Etym: [L. dissentire, dissentum; dis- + sentire to feel, think. See Sense.]

1. To differ in opinion; to be of unlike or contrary sentiment; to disagree; -- followed by from. The bill passed . . . without a dissenting voice. Hallam. Opinions in which multitudes of men dissent from us. Addison.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: To differ from an established church in regard to doctrines, rites, or government.

3. To differ; to be of a contrary nature. Hooker.

DISSENT Dis*sent", n.

1. The act of dissenting; difference of opinion; refusal to adopt something proposed; nonagreement, nonconcurrence, or disagreement. The dissent of no small number [of peers] is frequently recorded. Hallam.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: Separation from an established church, especially that of England; nonconformity. It is the dissidence of dissent and the protestantism of the Protestant religion. Burke.

3. Contrariety of nature; diversity in quality. [Obs.] The dissent of the metals. Bacon.

Syn. -- Disagreement; variance; difference; nonconcurrence; nonconformity.

DISSENTANEOUS Dis`sen*ta"ne*ous, a. Etym: [L. dissentaneus.]

Defn: Disagreeing; contrary; differing; -- opposed to consentaneous. [R.] Barrow.

DISSENTANY Dis"sen*ta*ny, a.

Defn: Dissentaneous; inconsistent. [Obs.] Milton.

DISSENTATION Dis`sen*ta"tion, n.

Defn: Dissension. [Obs.] W. Browne.

DISSENTER Dis*sent"er, n.

1. One who dissents; one who differs in opinion, or declares his disagreement.

2. (Eccl.)

Defn: One who separates from the service and worship of an established church; especially, one who disputes the authority or tenets of the Church of England; a nonconformist. Dissenters from the establishment of their several countries. Burke. Robert Brown is said to have the first formal dissenter. Shipley.

Note: "The word is commonly applied only to Protestants. The Roman Catholics are generally referred to as a distinct class." Brande & C.

DISSENTERISM Dis*sent"er*ism, n.

Defn: The spirit or principles of dissenters. Ed. Rev.

DISSENTIATE Dis*sen"ti*ate, v. t.

Defn: To throw into a state of dissent. [R.] Feltham.

DISSENTIENT Dis*sen"tient, a. Etym: [L. dissentiens, p. pr. of dissentire. See Dissent, v. i.]

Defn: Disagreeing; declaring dissent; dissenting. -- n.

Defn: One who dissents. Macaulay.

DISSENTIOUS Dis*sen"tious, a.

Defn: Marked by dissensions; apt to breed discord; quarrelsome; contentious; factious. -- Dis*sen"tious*ly, adv.

DISSENTIVE Dis*sent"ive, a.

Defn: Disagreeing; inconsistent. [Obs.] Feltham.

DISSEPIMENT Dis*sep"i*ment, n. Etym: [L. dissaepimentum, fr. dissaepire; dis- + saepire to hedge in, inclose.]

1. A separating tissue; a partition; a septum.

2. (Bot.)

Defn: One of the partitions which divide a compound ovary into cells.

3. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of the transverse, calcareous partitions between the radiating septa of a coral.

DISSERT Dis*sert", v. i. Etym: [L. dissertus, p. p. of disserere; dis- + serere to join, connect: cf. F. disserter. See Series.]

Defn: To discourse or dispute; to discuss. [R.] We have disserted upon it a little longer than was necessary. Jeffrey.

DISSERTATE Dis"ser*tate, v. i. Etym: [L. dissertatus, p. p. of dissertare to discuss, intents, fr. disserere. See Dissert.]

Defn: To deal in dissertation; to write dissertations; to discourse. [R.] J. Foster.

DISSERTATION Dis`ser*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissertatio: cf. F. dissertation.]

Defn: A formal or elaborate argumentative discourse, oral or written; a disquisition; an essay; a discussion; as, Dissertations on the Prophecies.

DISSERTATIONAL Dis`ser*ta"tion*al, a.

Defn: Relating to dissertations; resembling a dissertation.

DISSERTATIONIST Dis`ser*ta"tion*ist, n.

Defn: A writer of dissertations.

DISSERTATOR Dis"ser*ta`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. dissertateur.]

Defn: One who writers a dissertation; one who discourses. Boyle.

DISSERTLY Dis*sert"ly, adv.

Defn: See Disertly. [Obs.]

DISSERVE Dis*serve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Di; p. pr. & vb. n. Disserving.] Etym: [Pref. dis- + serve: cf. F. desservir.]

Defn: To fail to serve; to do injury or mischief to; to damage; to hurt; to harm. Have neither served nor disserved the interests of any party. Jer. Taylor.

DISSERVICE Dis*serv"ice, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + service: cf. F. desservice.]

Defn: Injury; mischief. We shall rather perform good offices unto truth than any disservice unto their relators. Sir T. Browne.

DISSERVICEABLE Dis*serv"ice*a*ble, a.

Defn: Calculated to do disservice or harm; not serviceable; injurious; harmful; unserviceable. Shaftesbury. -- Dis*serv"ice*a*ble*ness, n. Norris. -- Dis*serv"ice*a*bly, adv.

DISSETTLE Dis*set"tle, v. t.

Defn: To unsettle. [Obs.]

DISSETTLEMENT Dis*set"tle*ment, n.

Defn: The act of unsettling, or the state of being unsettled. Marvell.

DISSEVER Dis*sev"er, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissevered; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissevering.] Etym: [OE. dessevrer; pref. des- (L. dis-) + sevrer to sever, F. sevrer to wean, L. separate to separate. In this word the prefix is intensive. See Dis-, and Sever.]

Defn: To part in two; to sever thoroughly; to sunder; to disunite; to separate; to disperse. The storm so dissevered the company . . . that most of therm never met again. Sir P. Sidney. States disserved, discordant, belligerent. D. Webster.

DISSEVER Dis*sev"er, v. i.

Defn: To part; to separate. Chaucer.

DISSEVERANCE Dis*sev"er*ance, n. Etym: [OF. dessevrance.]

Defn: The act of disserving; separation.

DISSEVERATION Dis*sev`er*a"tion, n.

Defn: The act of disserving; disseverance. [Obs.]

DISSEVERMENT Dis*sev"er*ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. dessevrement.]

Defn: Disseverance. Sir W. Scott.

DISSHADOW Dis*shad"ow, v. t.

Defn: To free from shadow or shade. [Obs.] G. Fletcher.

DISSHEATHE Dis*sheathe", v. i.

Defn: To become unsheathed. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

DISSHIP Dis*ship", v. t.

Defn: To dismiss from service on board ship. [Obs.] Hakluyt.

DISSHIVER Dis*shiv"er, v. t. & i.

Defn: To shiver or break in pieces. [Obs.]

DISSIDENCE Dis"si*dence, n. Etym: [L. dissidentia: cf. F. dissidence. See Dissident, a.]

Defn: Disagreement; dissent; separation from the established religion. I. Taylor. It is the dissidence of dissent. Burke.

DISSIDENT Dis"si*dent, a. Etym: [L. dissidens, -entis, p. pr. of dissidere to sit apart, to disagree; dis- + sedere to sit: cf. F. dissident. See Sit.]

Defn: No agreeing; dissenting; discordant; different. Our life and manners be dissident from theirs. Robynson (More's Utopia).

DISSIDENT Dis"si*dent, n. (Eccl.)

Defn: One who disagrees or dissents; one who separates from the established religion. The dissident, habituated and taught to think of his dissidencI. Taylor.

DISSIDENTLY Dis"si*dent*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dissident manner.

DISSILIENCE; DISSILIENCY Dis*sil"i*ence, Dis*sil"i*en*cy, n.

Defn: The act of leaping or starting asunder. Johnson.

DISSILIENT Dis*sil"i*ent, a. Etym: [L. dissiliens, -entis, p. pr. of dissilire to leap asunder: dis- + salire to leap.]

Defn: Starting asunder; bursting and opening with an elastic force; dehiscing explosively; as, a dissilient pericarp.

DISSILITION Dis`si*li"tion, n.

Defn: The act of bursting or springing apart. [R.] Boyle.

DISSIMILAR Dis*sim"i*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + similar: cf. F. dissimilaire.]

Defn: Not similar; unlike; heterogeneous; as, the tempers of men are as dissimilar as their features. This part very dissimilar to any other. Boyle.

DISSIMILARITY Dis*sim`i*lar"i*ty, n.

Defn: Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilitude; variety; as, the dissimilarity of human faces and forms. Sir W. Jones.

DISSIMILARLY Dis*sim"i*lar*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dissimilar manner; in a varied style. With verdant shrubs dissimilarly gay. C. Smart.

DISSIMILATE Dis*sim"i*late, v. t.

Defn: To render dissimilar.

DISSIMILATION Dis*sim`i*la"tion, n.

Defn: The act of making dissimilar. H. Sweet.

DISSIMILE Dis*sim"i*le, n. Etym: [L. dissimile, neut. dissimilis unlike.] (Rhet.)

Defn: Comparison or illustration by contraries.

DISSIMILITUDE Dis`si*mil"i*tude, n. Etym: [L. dissimilitudo, fr. dissimilis: cf. F. dissimilitude.]

1. Want of resemblance; unlikeness; dissimilarity. Dissimilitude between the Divinity and images. Stillingfleet.

2. (Rhet.)

Defn: A comparison by contrast; a dissimile.

DISSIMULATE Dis*sim"u*late, a. Etym: [L. dissimulatus, p. p. of dissimulare. See Dissemble.]

Defn: Feigning; simulating; pretending. [Obs.] Henryson.

DISSIMULATE Dis*sim"u*late, v. i.

Defn: To dissemble; to feign; to pretend.

DISSIMULATION Dis*sim`u*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissimulatio: cf. F. dissimulation.]

Defn: The act of dissembling; a hiding under a false appearance; concealment by feigning; false pretension; hypocrisy. Let love be without dissimulation. Rom. xii. 9. Dissimulation . . . when a man lets fall signs and arguments that he is not that he is. Bacon. Simulation is a pretense of what is not, and dissimulation a concealment of what is. Tatler.

DISSIMULATOR Dis*sim"u*la`tor, n. Etym: [L.]

Defn: One who dissimulates; a dissembler.

DISSIMULE Dis*sim"ule, v. t. & i. Etym: [F. dissimuler. See Dissimulate.]

Defn: To dissemble. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DISSIMULER Dis*sim"u*ler, n.

Defn: A dissembler. [Obs.]

DISSIMULOUR Dis*sim"u*lour, n. Etym: [OF. dissimuleur.]

Defn: A dissembler. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DISSIPABLE Dis"si*pa*ble, a. Etym: [L. dissipabilis.]

Defn: Capable of being scattered or dissipated. [R.] The heat of those plants is very dissipable. Bacon.

DISSIPATE Dis"si*pate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissipated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissipating.] Etym: [L. dissipatus, p. p. of dissipare; dis- + an obsolete verb sipare, supare. to throw.]

1. To scatter completely; to disperse and cause to disappear; -- used esp. of the dispersion of things that can never again be collected or restored. Dissipated those foggy mists of error. Selden. I soon dissipated his fears. Cook. The extreme tendency of civilization is to dissipate all intellectual energy. Hazlitt.

2. To destroy by wasteful extravagance or lavish use; to squander. The vast wealth . . . was in three years dissipated. Bp. Burnet.

Syn. -- To disperse; scatter; dispel; spend; squander; waste; consume; lavish.

DISSIPATE Dis"si*pate, v. i.

1. To separate into parts and disappear; to waste away; to scatter; to disperse; to vanish; as, a fog or cloud gradually dissipates before the rays or heat of the sun; the heat of a body dissipates.

2. To be extravagant, wasteful, or dissolute in the pursuit of pleasure; to engage in dissipation.

DISSIPATED Dis"si*pa`ted, a.

1. Squandered; scattered. "Dissipated wealth." Johnson.

2. Wasteful of health, money, etc., in the pursuit of pleasure; dissolute; intemperate. A life irregular and dissipated. Johnson.

DISSIPATION Dis`si*pa"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissipatio: cf. F. dissipation.]

1. The act of dissipating or dispersing; a state of dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste. Without loss or dissipation of the matter. Bacon. The famous dissipation of mankind. Sir M. Hale.

2. A dissolute course of life, in which health, money, etc., are squandered in pursuit of pleasure; profuseness in vicious indulgence, as late hours, riotous living, etc.; dissoluteness. To reclaim the spendthrift from his dissipation and extravagance. P. Henry.

3. A trifle which wastes time or distracts attention. Prevented from finishing them [the letters] a thousand avocations and dissipations. Swift. Dissipation of energy. Same as Degradation of energy, under Degradation.

DISSIPATIVE Dis"si*pa*tive, a.

Defn: Tending to dissipate. Dissipative system (Mech.), an assumed system of matter and motions in which forces of friction and resistances of other kinds are introduced without regard to the heat or other molecular actions which they generate; -- opposed to conservative system.

DISSIPATIVITY Dis`si*pa*tiv"i*ty, n.

Defn: The rate at which palpable energy is dissipated away into other forms of energy.

DISSITE Dis"site, a. Etym: [L. dissitus.]

Defn: Lying apart. [Obs.] Lands far dissite and remote asunder. Holland.

DISSLANDER Dis*slan"der, v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens.) + slander.]

Defn: To slander. [Obs.] Legend of Dido.

DISSLANDER Dis*slan"der, n.

Defn: Slander. [Obs.] E. Hall.

DISSLANDEROUS Dis*slan"der*ous, a.

Defn: Slanderous. [Obs.]

DISSOCIABILITY Dis*so`cia*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Want of sociability; unsociableness. Bp. Warburton.

DISSOCIABLE Dis*so"cia*ble, a. Etym: [L. dissociabilis, fr. issociare: cf. F. dissociable. See Dissociate.]

1. Not They came in two and two, though matched in the most dissociable manner. Spectator.

2. Having a tendency to dissolve social connections; unsuitable to society; unsociable.

DISSOCIAL Dis*so"cial, a. Etym: [Pref. dis- + social: cf. L. dissocialis. See Dissociate, v. t.]

Defn: Unfriendly to society; contracted; selfish; as, dissocial feelings.

DISSOCIALIZE Dis*so"cial*ize, v. t.

Defn: To render unsocial.

DISSOCIATE Dis*so"ci*ate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissociated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissociating.] Etym: [L. dissociatus, p. p. of dissociare to dissociate; dis- + sociare to unite, associate, socius companion. See Social.]

Defn: To separate from fellowship or union; to disunite; to disjoin; as, to dissociate the particles of a concrete substance. Before Wyclif's death in 1384, John of Gaunt had openly dissociated himself from the reformer. A. W. Ward.

DISSOCIATION Dis*so`ci*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. dissociatio: cf. F. dissociation.]

1. The act of dissociating or disuniting; a state of separation; disunion. It will add infinitely dissociation, distraction, and confusion of these confederate republics. Burke.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: The process by which a compound body breaks up into simpler constituents; -- said particularly of the action of heat on gaseous or volatile substances; as, the dissociation of the sulphur molecules; the dissociation of ammonium chloride into hydrochloric acid and ammonia.

DISSOCIATIVE Dis*so"ci*a*tive, a.

Defn: Tending or leading to dissociation.

DISSOLUBILITY Dis`so*lu*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality of being dissoluble; capacity of being dissoluble; capacity of being dissolved by heat or moisture, and converted into a fluid.

DISSOLUBLE Dis"so*lu*ble, a. Etym: [L. dissolubilis: cf. F. dissoluble. See Dissolve, and cf. Dissolvable.]

1. Capable of being dissolved; having its parts separable by heat or moisture; convertible into a fluid. Woodward.

2. Capable of being disunited.

DISSOLUBLENESS Dis"so*lu*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being dissoluble; dissolubility. Boyle.

DISSOLUTE Dis"so*lute, a. Etym: [L. dissolutus, p. p. of dissolvere: cf. F. dissolu. See Dissolve.]

1. With nerves unstrung; weak. [Obs.] Spenser.

2. Loosed from restraint; esp., loose in morals and conduct; recklessly abandoned to sensual pleasures; profligate; wanton; lewd; debauched. "A wild and dissolute soldier." Motley.

Syn. -- Uncurbed; unbridled; disorderly; unrestrained; reckless; wild; wanton; vicious; lax; licentious; lewd;

DISSOLUTELY Dis"so*lute*ly, adv.

Defn: In a dissolute manner.

DISSOLUTENESS Dis"so*lute*ness, n.

Defn: State or quality of being dissolute; looseness of morals and manners; addictedness to sinful pleasures; debauchery; dissipation. Chivalry had the vices of dissoluteness. Bancroft.

DISSOLUTION Dis`so*lu"tion, n. Etym: [OE. dissolucioun dissoluteness, F. dissolution, fr. L. dissolutio, fr. dissolvere. See Dissolve.]

1. The act of dissolving, sundering, or separating into component parts; separation. Dissolutions of ancient amities. Shak.

2. Change from a solid to a fluid state; solution by heat or moisture; liquefaction; melting.

3. Change of form by chemical agency; decomposition; resolution. The dissolution of the compound. South.

4. The dispersion of an assembly by terminating its sessions; the breaking up of a partnership. Dissolution is the civil death of Parliament. Blackstone.

5. The extinction of life in the human body; separation of the soul from the body; death. We expected Immediate dissolution. Milton.

6. The state of being dissolved, or of undergoing liquefaction. A man of continual dissolution and thaw. Shak.

7. The new product formed by dissolving a body; a solution. Bacon.

8. Destruction of anything by the separation of its parts; ruin. To make a present dissolution of the world. Hooker.

9. Corruption of morals; dissipation; dissoluteness. [Obs. or R.] Atterbury.

DISSOLVABILITY Dis*solv`a*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capacity of being dissolved; solubility. Richardson.

DISSOLVABLE Dis*solv"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Dissolve, cf. Dissoluble.]

Defn: Capable of being dissolved, or separated into component parts; capable of being liquefied; soluble. -- Dis*solv"a*ble*ness, n. Though everything which is compacted be in its own nature dissolvable. Cudworth. Such things as are not dissolvable by the moisture of the tongue. Sir I. Newton.

DISSOLVATIVE Dis*solv"a*tive, n.

Defn: Having the power to dissolve anything; solvent. [Obs.] Frampton.

DISSOLVE Dis*solve", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissolved; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissolving.] Etym: [L. dissolvere, dissolutum; dis- + solvere to loose, free. See Solve, and cf. Dissolute.]

1. To separate into competent parts; to disorganize; to break up; hence, to bring to an end by separating the parts, sundering a relation, etc.; to terminate; to destroy; to deprive of force; as, to dissolve a partnership; to dissolve Parliament. Lest his ungoverned rage dissolve the life. Shak.

2. To break the continuity of; to disconnect; to disunite; to sunder; to loosen; to undo; to separate. Nothing can dissolve us. Shak. Down fell the duke, his joints dissolved asunder. Fairfax. For one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another. The Declaration of Independence.

3. To convert into a liquid by means of heat, moisture, etc.,; to melt; to liquefy; to soften. As if the world were all dissolved to tears. Shak.

4. To solve; to clear up; to resolve. "Dissolved the mystery." Tennyson. Make interpretations and dissolve doubts. Dan. v. 16.

5. To relax by pleasure; to make powerless. Angels dissolved in hallelujahs lie. Dryden.

6. (Law)

Defn: To annul; to rescind; to discharge or release; as, to dissolve an injunction.

Syn. -- See Adjourn.

DISSOLVE Dis*solve", v. i.

1. To waste away; to be dissipated; to be decomposed or broken up.

2. To become fluid; to be melted; to be liquefied. A figure Trenched in ice, which with an hour's heat Dissolves to water, and doth lose his form. Shak.

3. To fade away; to fall to nothing; to lose power. The charm dissolves apace. Shak.

DISSOLVENT Dis*solv"ent, a. Etym: [L. dissolvens, -entis, p. pr. of dissolvere.]

Defn: Having power to dissolve power to dissolve a solid body; as, the dissolvent juices of the stomach. Ray.

DISSOLVENT Dis*solv"ent, n.

1. That which has the power of dissolving or melting other substances, esp. by mixture with them; a menstruum; a solvent. Melted in the crucible dissolvents. A. Smith. The secret treaty of December acted as an immediate dissolvent to the truce. Mothley.

2. (Med.)

Defn: A remedy supposed capable of dissolving concretions in the body, such as calculi, tubercles, etc.

DISSOLVER Dis*solv"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, has power to dissolve or dissipate. Thou kind dissolver of encroaching care. Otway.

DISSOLVING Dis*solv"ing, a.

Defn: Melting; breaking up; vanishing. -- Dis*solv"ing*ly, adv. Dissolving view, a picture which grows dim and is gradually replaced by another on the same field; -- an effect produced by magic lanterns.

DISSONANCE Dis"so*nance, n. Etym: [L. dissonantia: cf. F. dissonance.]

1. A mingling of discordant sounds; an inharmonious combination of sounds; discord. Filled the air with barbarous dissonance. Milton.

2. Want of agreement; incongruity. Milton.

DISSONANCY Dis"so*nan*cy, n.

Defn: Discord; dissonance.

DISSONANT Dis"so*nant, a. Etym: [L. dissonans, -antis, p. pr. of dissonare to disagree in sound, be discordant; dis- + sonare to sound: cf. F. dissonant. See Sonant.]

1. Sounding harshly; discordant; unharmonious. With clamor of voices dissonant and loud. Longfellow.

2. Disagreeing; incongruous; discrepfrom or to. "Anything dissonant to truth." South. What can be dissonant from reason and nature than that a man, naturally inclined to clemency, should show himself unkind and inhuman Hakewill.

DISSPIRIT Dis*spir"it, v. t.

Defn: See Dispirit.

DISSUADE Dis*suade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissuaded; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissuading.] Etym: [L. dissuadere, dissuasum; dis- + suadere to advise, persuade: cf. F. dissuader. See Suasion.]

1. To advise or exhort against; to try to persuade (one from a course). [Obsolescent] Mr. Burchell, on the contrary, dissuaded her with great ardor: and I stood neuter. Goldsmith. War, therefore, open or concealed, alike My voice dissuades. Milton.

2. To divert by persuasion; to turn from a purpose by reasons or motives; -- with from; as, I could not dissuade him from his purpose. I have tried what is possible to dissuade him. Mad. D' Arblay.

DISSUADER Dis*suad"er, n.

Defn: One who dissuades; a dehorter.

DISSUASION Dis*sua"sion, n. Etym: [L. dissuasio: cf. F. dissuasion. See Dissuade.]

1. The act of dissuading; exhortation against a thing; dehortation. In spite of all the dissuasions of his friends. Boyle.

2. A motive or consideration tending to dissuade; a dissuasive.

DISSUASIVE Dis*sua"sive, a.

Defn: Tending to dissuade or divert from a measure or purpose; dehortatory; as, dissuasive advice. -- n.

Defn: A dissuasive argument or counsel; dissuasion; dehortation. Prynne. -- Dis*sua"sive*ly, adv.

DISSUASORY Dis*sua"so*ry, n.

Defn: A dissuasive. [R.] This virtuous and reasonable person, however, has ill luck in all his dissuasories. Jeffrey.

DISSUNDER Dis*sun"der, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dissundered; p. pr. & vb. n. Dissundering.] Etym: [Pref. dis- (intens) + sunder.]

Defn: To separate; to sunder; to destroy. [R.] Chapman.

DISSWEETEN Dis*sweet"en, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of sweetness. [R.] Bp. Richardson.

DISSYLLABIC Dis`syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dissyllabique. See Dissylable.]

Defn: Consisting of two syllabas, a dissyllabic foot in poetry. B. Jons

DISSYLLABIFICATION Dis`syl*lab`i*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: A formi

DISSYLLABIFY Dis`syl*lab"i*fy, v. t. Etym: [Dissyllable + -fly.]

Defn: To form into two syllables. Ogilvie.

DISSYLLABIZE Dis*syl"la*bize, v. t.

Defn: To form into two syllables; to dyssyllabify.

DISSYLLABLE Dis*syl"la*ble, n. Etym: [F. dissyllabe, L. disyllabus, adj., of two syllables, fr. Gr. Syllable.]

Defn: A word of two syllables; as, pa-per.

DISSYMMETRICAL Dis`sym*met"ric*al, a.

Defn: Not having symmetry; asymmetrical; unsymmetrical.

DISSYMMETRY Dis*sym"me*try, n. Etym: [Pref. dis- + symmetry.]

Defn: Absence or defect of symmetry; asymmetry.

DISSYMPATHY Dis*sym"pa*thy, n.

Defn: Lack of sympathy; want of interest; indifference. [R.]

DISTAD Dis"tad, adv. Etym: [Distal + L. ad toward.] (Anat.)

Defn: Toward a distal part; on the distal side of; distally.

DISTAFF Dis"taff, n.; pl. Distaffs, rarely Distaves. Etym: [OE. distaf, dysestafe, AS. distaef; cf. LG. diesse the bunch of flax on a distaff, and E. dizen. See Staff.]

1. The staff for holding a bunch of flax, tow, or wool, from which the thread is drawn in spinning by hand. I will the distaff hold; come thou and spin. Fairfax.

2. Used as a symbol of the holder of a distaff; hence, a woman; women, collectively. His crown usurped, a distaff on the throne. Dryden. Some say the crozier, some say the distaff was too busy. Howell.

Note: The plural is regular, but Distaves occurs in Beaumont & Fletcher. Descent by distaff, descent on the mother's side. -- Distaff Day, or Distaff's Day, the morrow of the Epiphany, that is, January 7, because working at the distaff was then resumed, after the Christmas festival; -- called also Rock Day, a distaff being called a rock. Shipley.

DISTAIN Dis*tain", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distained; p. pr. & vb. n. Distaining.] Etym: [OE. desteinen, OF. desteindre to take away the color, F. déteindre; pref. des- (L. dis-) + F. teindre to tinge, dye, L. tingere. See Tinge, and cf. Stain.]

Defn: To tinge with a different color from the natural or proper one; to stain; to discolor; to sully; to tarnish; to defile; -- used chiefly in poetry. "Distained with dirt and blood." Spenser. [She] hath . . . distained her honorable blood. Spenser. The worthiness of praise distains his worth. Shak.

DISTAL Dis"tal, a. Etym: [From Distant.] (Physiol.) (a) Remote from the point of attachment or origin; as, the distal end of a bone or muscle; -- opposed to proximal. (b) Pertaining to that which is distal; as, the distal tuberosities of a bone.

DISTALLY Dis"tal*ly, adv. (Anat.)

Defn: Toward a distal part.

DISTANCE Dis"tance, n. Etym: [F. distance, L. distantia.]

1. The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place. Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance. Sir I. Newton.

2. Remoteness of place; a remote place. Easily managed from a distance. W. Irving. 'T is distance lends enchantment to the view. T. Campbell. [He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato. Addison.

3. (Racing)

Defn: A space marked out in the last part of a race course. The horse that ran the whole field out of distance. L'Estrange.

Note: In trotting matches under the rules of the American Association, the distance varies with the conditions of the race, being 80 yards in races of mile heaths, best two in three, and 150 yards in races of two-mile heats. At that distance from the winning post in placed the distance post. If any horse has not reached this distance post before the first horse in that heat has reached the winning post, such horse is distanced, and disqualified for cunning again during that race.

4. (Mil.)

Defn: Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; -- contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left. "Distance between companies in close column is twelve yards." Farrow.

5. Space between two antagonists in fencing. Shak.

6. (Painting)

Defn: The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.

Note: In a picture, the Middle distance is the central portion between the foreground and the distance or the extreme distance. In a perspective drawing, the Point of distance is the point where the visual rays meet.

7. Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety. Locke.

8. Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events. Ten years' distance between one and the other. Prior. The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years. Playfair.

9. The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness. I hope your modesty Will know what distance to the crown is due. Dryden. 'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld. Atterbury.

10. A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve. Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves. Bacon. On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste. Milton.

11. Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.

12. (Mus.)

Defn: The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh. Angular distance, the distance made at the eye by lines drawn from the eye to two objects. -- Lunar distance. See under Lunar. -- North polar distance (Astron.), the distance on the heavens of a heavenly body from the north pole. It is the complement of the declination. -- Zenith distance (Astron.), the arc on the heavens from a heavenly body to the zenith of the observer. It is the complement of the altitude. -- To keep one's distance, to stand aloof; to refrain from familiarity. If a man makes keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time. Swift.

DISTANCE Dis"tance, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distanced; p. pr. & vb. n. Distancing.]

1. To place at a distance or remotely. I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence. Fuller.

2. To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote. His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space. H. Miller.

3. To outstrip by as much as a distance (see Distance, n., 3); to leave far behind; to surpass greatly. He distanced the most skillful of his contemporaries. Milner.

DISTANCY Dis"tan*cy, n.

Defn: Distance. [Obs.] Dr. H. More.

DISTANT Dis"tant, a. Etym: [F., fr. L. distans, -antis, p. pr. of distare to stand apart, be separate or distant; dis- + stare to stand. See Stand.]

1. Separated; having an intervening space; at a distance; away. One board had two tenons, equally distant. Ex. xxxvi. 22. Diana's temple is not distant far. Shak.

2. Far separated; far off; not near; remote; -- in place, time, consanguinity, or connection; as, distant times; distant relatives. The success of these distant enterprises. Prescott.

3. Reserved or repelling in manners; cold; not cordial; somewhat haughty; as, a distant manner. He passed me with a distant bow. Goldsmith.

4. Indistinct; faint; obscure, as from distance. Some distant knowledge. Shak. A distant glimpse. W. Irving.

5. Not conformable; discrepant; repugnant; as, a practice so widely distant from Christianity.

Syn. -- Separate; far; remote; aloof; apart; asunder; slight; faint; indirect; indistinct.

DISTANTIAL Dis*tan"tial, a.

Defn: Distant. [Obs.] More distantial from the eye. W. Montagu.

DISTANTLY Dis"tant*ly, adv.

Defn: At a distance; remotely; with reserve.

DISTASTE Dis*taste", n.

1. Aversion of the taste; dislike, as of food or drink; disrelish. Bacon.

2. Discomfort; uneasiness. Prosperity is not without many fears and distastes, and adversity is not without comforts and hopes. Bacon.

3. Alienation of affection; displeasure; anger. On the part of Heaven, Now alienated, distance and distaste. Milton.

Syn. -- Disrelish; disinclination; dislike; aversion; displeasure; dissatisfaction; disgust.

DISTASTE Dis*taste", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distasted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distasting.]

1. Not to have relish or taste for; to disrelish; to loathe; to dislike. Although my will distaste what it elected. Shak.

2. To offend; to disgust; to displease. [Obs.] He thought in no policy to distaste the English or Irish by a course of reformation, but sought to please them. Sir J. Davies.

3. To deprive of taste or relish; to make unsavory or distasteful. Drayton.

DISTASTE Dis*taste", v. i.

Defn: To be distasteful; to taste ill or disagreeable. [Obs.] Dangerous conceits are, in their natures, poisons, Which at the are scarce found to distaste. Shak.

DISTASTEFUL Dis*taste"ful, a.

1. Unpleasant or disgusting to the taste; nauseous; loathsome.

2. Offensive; displeasing to the feelings; disagreeable; as, a distasteful truth. Distasteful answer, and sometimes unfriendly actions. Milton.

3. Manifesting distaste or dislike; repulsive. "Distasteful looks." Shak.

Syn. -- Nauseous; unsavory; unpalatable; offensive; displeasing; dissatisfactory; disgusting. - Dis*taste"ful*ly, adv. -- Dis*taste"ful*ness, n.

DISTASTEIVE Dis*taste"ive, a.

Defn: Tending to excite distaste. [Obs.] -- n.

Defn: That which excites distaste or aversion. [Obs.] Whitlock.

DISTASTURE Dis*tas"ture, n.

Defn: Something which excites distaste or disgust. [Obs.] Speed.

DISTEMPER Dis*tem"per, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distempered; p. pr. & vb. n. Distempering.] Etym: [OF. destemprer, destremper, to distemper, F. détremper to soak, soften, slake (lime); pref. des- (L. dis-) + OF. temprer, tremper, F. tremper, L. temperare to mingle in due proportion. See Temper, and cf. Destemprer.]

1. To temper or mix unduly; to make disproportionate; to change the due proportions of. [Obs.] When . . . the humors in his body ben distempered. Chaucer.

2. To derange the functions of, whether bodily, mental, or spiritual; to disorder; to disease. Shak. The imagination, when completely distempered, is the most incurable of all disordered faculties. Buckminster.

3. To deprive of temper or moderation; to disturb; to ruffle; to make disaffected, ill-humored, or malignant. "Distempered spirits." Coleridge.

4. To intoxicate. [R.] The courtiers reeling, And the duke himself, I dare not say distempered, But kind, and in his tottering chair carousing. Massinger.

5. (Paint.)

Defn: To mix (colors) in the way of distemper; as, to distemper colors with size. [R.]

DISTEMPER Dis*tem"per, n. Etym: [See Distemper, v. t., and cf. Destemprer.]

1. An undue or unnatural temper, or disproportionate mixture of parts. Bacon.

Note: This meaning and most of the following are to be referred to the Galenical doctrine of the four "humors" in man. See Humor. According to the old physicians, these humors, when unduly tempered, produce a disordered state of body and mind.

2. Severity of climate; extreme weather, whether hot or cold. [Obs.] Those countries . . . under the tropic, were of a distemper uninhabitable. Sir W. Raleigh.

3. A morbid state of the animal system; indisposition; malady; disorder; -- at present chiefly applied to diseases of brutes; as, a distemper in dogs; the horse distemper; the horn distemper in cattle. They heighten distempers to diseases. Suckling.

4. Morbid temper of the mind; undue predominance of a passion or appetite; mental derangement; bad temper; ill humor. [Obs.] Little faults proceeding on distemper. Shak. Some frenzy distemper had got into his head. Bunyan.

5. Political disorder; tumult. Waller.

6. (Paint.) (a) A preparation of opaque or body colors, in which the pigments are tempered or diluted with weak glue or size (cf. Tempera) instead of oil, usually for scene painting, or for walls and ceilings of rooms. (b) A painting done with this preparation.

Syn. -- Disease; disorder; sickness; illness; malady; indisposition; ailment. See Disease.

DISTEMPERANCE Dis*tem"per*ance, n.

Defn: Distemperature. [Obs.]

DISTEMPERATE Dis*tem"per*ate, a. Etym: [LL. distemperatus, p. p.]

1. Immoderate. [Obs.] Sir W. Raleigh.

2. Diseased; disordered. [Obs.] Wodroephe.

DISTEMPERATELY Dis*tem"per*ate*ly, adv.

Defn: Unduly. [Obs.]

DISTEMPERATURE Dis*tem"per*a*ture, n.

1. Bad temperature; intemperateness; excess of heat or cold, or of other qualities; as, the distemperature of the air. [Obs.]

2. Disorder; confusion. Shak.

3. Disorder of body; slight illness; distemper. A huge infectious troop Of pale distemperatures and foes to life. Shak.

4. Perturbation of mind; mental uneasiness. Sprinkled a little patience on the heat of his distemperature. Sir W. Scott.

DISTEMPERMENT Dis*tem"per*ment, n.

Defn: Distempered state; distemperature. [Obs.] Feltham.

DISTEND Dis*tend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distended; p. pr. & vb. n. Distending.] Etym: [L. distendere, distentum, distensum; dis- + tendere to stretch, stretch out: cf. F. distendre to distend, détendre to unbend. See Tend, and cf. Detent.]

1. To extend in some one direction; to lengthen out; to stretch. [R.] But say, what mean those colored streaks in heaven Distended as the brow of God appeased Milton.

2. To stretch out or extend in all directions; to dilate; to enlarge, as by elasticity of parts; to inflate so as to produce tension; to cause to swell; as, to distend a bladder, the stomach, etc. The warmth distends the chinks. Dryden.

Syn. -- To dilate; expand; enlarge; swell; inflate.

DISTEND Dis*tend", v. i.

Defn: To become expanded or inflated; to swell. "His heart distends with pride." Milton.

DISTENSIBILITY Dis*ten`si*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: The quality or capacity of being distensible. [R.]

DISTENSIBLE Dis*ten"si*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being distended or dilated.

DISTENSION Dis*ten"sion, n.

Defn: Same as Distention.

DISTENSIVE Dis*ten"sive, a.

Defn: Distending, or capable of being distended.

DISTENT Dis*tent", a. Etym: [L. distentus, p. p. See Distend.]

Defn: Distended. [Poetic] Thomson.

DISTENT Dis*tent", n.

Defn: Breadth. [Obs.] Sir H. Wotton.

DISTENTION Dis*ten"tion, n. Etym: [L. distentio: cf. F. distension.]

1. The act of distending; the act of stretching in breadth or in all directions; the state of being Distended; as, the distention of the lungs.

2. Breadth; extent or space occupied by the thing distended.

DISTER Dis*ter", v. t. Etym: [L. dis- + terra earth, country; cf. Sp. & Pg. desterrar.]

Defn: To banish or drive from a country. [Obs.] Howell.

DISTERMINATE Dis*ter"mi*nate, a. Etym: [L. disterminatus, p. p. of disterminare to limit. See Terminate.]

Defn: Separated by bounds. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

DISTERMINATION Dis*ter`mi*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. disterminatio.]

Defn: Separation by bounds. [Obs.] Hammond.

DISTHENE Dis"thene, n. Etym: [Gr. disthène.] (Min.)

Defn: Cyanite or kyanite; -- so called in allusion to its unequal hardness in two different directions. See Cyanite.

DISTHRONE Dis*throne", v. t. Etym: [Pref. dis- + throne: cf. OF. desthroner, F. détroner.]

Defn: To dethrone. [Obs.]

DISTHRONIZE Dis*thron"ize, v. t.

Defn: To dethrone. [Obs.] Spenser.

DISTICH Dis"tich, n. Etym: [L. distichon, Gr. stigan to ascend: cf. F. distique. See Stirrup.] (Pros.)

Defn: A couple of verses or poetic lines making complete sense; an epigram of two verses.

DISTICH; DISTICHOUS Dis"tich, Dis"tich*ous, a. Etym: [Gr. Distich, n.]

Defn: Disposed in two vertical rows; two-ranked.

DISTICHOUSLY Dis"tich*ous*ly, adv.

Defn: In a distichous manner.

DISTIL Dis*til", v. t. & i.

Defn: See Distill.

DISTILL Dis*till", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Distilled; p. pr. & vb. n. Distilling.] Etym: [F. distiller, from L. destillare, destillatum; de + stillare to drop, stilla a drop, prob. fr. stiria frozen drop, icicle; prob. akin to stare, E. stand. Cf. Still, n. & v., Instill.] [Written also distil.]

1. To drop; to fall in drops; to trickle. Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in vain. Pope.

2. To flow gently, or in a small stream. The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains of Armenia. Sir W. Raleigh.

3. To practice the art of distillation. Shak.

DISTILL Dis*till", v. t.

1. To let fall or send down in drops. Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly rain. Pope. The dew which on the tender grass The evening had distilled. Drayton.

2. To obtain by distillation; to extract by distillation, as spirits, essential oil, etc.; to rectify; as, to distill brandy from wine; to distill alcoholic spirits from grain; to distill essential oils from flowers, etc.; to distill fresh water from sea water. "Distilling odors on me." Tennyson.

3. To subject to distillation; as, to distill molasses in making rum; to distill barley, rye, corn, etc.

4. To dissolve or melt. [R.] Swords by the lightning's subtle force distilled. Addison.

DISTILLABLE Dis*till"a*ble, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Capable of being distilled; especially, capable of being distilled without chemical change or decomposition; as, alcohol is distillable; olive oil is not distillable.

DISTILLATE Dis*till"ate, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The product of distillation; as, the distillate from molasses.

DISTILLATION Dis`til*la"tion, n. Etym: [F. distillation, L. destillatio.]

1. The act of falling in drops, or the act of pouring out in drops.

2. That which falls in drops. [R.] Johnson

3. (Chem.)

Defn: The separation of the volatile parts of a substance from the more fixed; specifically, the operation of driving off gas or vapor from volatile liquids or solids, by heat in a retort or still, and the condensation of the products as far as possible by a cool receiver, alembic, or condenser; rectification; vaporization; condensation; as, the distillation of illuminating gas and coal, of alcohol from sour mash, or of boric acid in steam.

Note: The evaporation of water, its condensation into clouds, and its precipitation as rain, dew, frost, snow, or hail, is an illustration of natural distillation.

4. The substance extracted by distilling. Shak. Destructive distillation (Chem.), the distillation, especially of complex solid substances, so that the ultimate constituents are separated or evolved in new compounds, -- usually requiring a high degree of heat; as, the destructive distillation of soft coal or of wood. -- Dry distillation, the distillation of substances by themselves, or without the addition of water or of other volatile solvent; as, the dry distillation of citric acid. -- Fractional distillation. (Chem.) See under Fractional.

DISTILLATORY Dis*til"la*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distillatoire.]

Defn: Belonging to, or used in, distilling; as, distillatory vessels. -- n.

Defn: A distillatory apparatus; a still.

DISTILLER Dis*till"er, n.

1. One who distills; esp., one who extracts alcoholic liquors by distillation.

2. The condenser of a distilling apparatus.

DISTILLERY Dis*till"er*y, n.; pl. Distilleries. Etym: [F. distillerie.]

1. The building and works where distilling, esp. of alcoholic liquors, is carried on.

2. The act of distilling spirits. [R.] Todd.

DISTILLMENT Dis*till"ment, n.

Defn: Distillation; the substance obtained by distillation. [Obs.] Shak.

DISTINCT Dis*tinct", a. Etym: [L. distinctus, p. p. of distinguere: cf. F. distinct. See Distinguish.]

1. Distinguished; having the difference marked; separated by a visible sign; marked out; specified. [Obs.] Wherever thus created -- for no place Is yet distinct by name. Milton.

2. Marked; variegated. [Obs.] The which [place] was dight With divers flowers distinct with rare delight. Spenser.

3. Separate in place; not conjunct; not united by growth or otherwise; -- with from. The intention was that the two armies which marched out together should afterward be distinct. Clarendon.

4. Not identical; different; individual. To offend, and judge, are distinct offices. Shak.

5. So separated as not to be confounded with any other thing; not liable to be misunderstood; not confused; well-defined; clear; as, we have a distinct or indistinct view of a prospect. Relation more particular and distinct. Milton.

Syn. -- Separate; unconnected; disjoined; different; clear; plain; conspicuous; obvious.

DISTINCT Dis*tinct", v. t.

Defn: To distinguish. [Obs.] Rom. of R.

DISTINCTION Dis*tinc"tion, n. Etym: [L. distinctio: cf. F. distinction.]

1. A marking off by visible signs; separation into parts; division. [Obs.] The distinction of tragedy into acts was not known. Dryden.

2. The act of distinguishing or denoting the differences between objects, or the qualities by which one is known from others; exercise of discernment; discrimination. To take away therefore that error, which confusion breedeth, distinction is requisite. Hooker.

3. That which distinguishes one thing from another; distinguishing quality; sharply defined difference; as, the distinction between real and apparent good. The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter. Locke.

4. Estimation of difference; regard to differences or distinguishing circumstance. Maids, women, wives, without distinction, fall. Dryden.

5. Conspicuous station; eminence; superiority; honorable estimation; as, a man of distinction. Your country's own means of distinction and defense. D. Webster.

Syn. -- Difference; variation, variety; contrast; diversity; contrariety; disagreement; discrimination; preference; superiority; rank; note; eminence.

DISTINCTIVE Dis*tinc"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. distinctif.]

1. Marking or expressing distinction or difference; distinguishing; characteristic; peculiar. The distinctive character and institutions of New England. Bancroft.

2. Having the power to distinguish and discern; discriminating. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

DISTINCTIVELY Dis*tinc"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: With distinction; plainly.

DISTINCTIVENESS Dis*tinc"tive*ness, n.

Defn: State of being distinctive.

DISTINCTLY Dis*tinct"ly, adv.

1. With distinctness; not confusedly; without the blending of one part or thing another; clearly; plainly; as, to see distinctly.

2. With meaning; significantly. [Obs.] Thou dost snore distinctly; There's meaning in thy snores. Shak.

Syn. -- Separately; clearly; plainly; obviously.

DISTINCTNESS Dis*tinct"ness, n.

1. The quality or state of being distinct; a separation or difference that prevents confusion of parts or things. The soul's . . . distinctness from the body. Cudworth.

2. Nice discrimination; hence, clearness; precision; as, he stated his arguments with great distinctness.

Syn. -- Plainness; clearness; precision; perspicuity.

DISTINCTURE Dis*tinc"ture, n.

Defn: Distinctness. [R.]

DISTINGUISH Dis*tin"guish, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distinguished; p. pr. & vb. n. Distinguishing.] Etym: [F. distinguer, L. distinguere, distinctum; di- = dis- + stinguere to quench, extinguish; prob. orig., to prick, and so akin to G. stechen, E. stick, and perh. sting. Cf. Extinguish.]

1. Not set apart from others by visible marks; to make distinctive or discernible by exhibiting differences; to mark off by some characteristic. Not more distinguished by her purple vest, Than by the charming features of her face. Dryden. Milton has distinguished the sweetbrier and the eglantine. Nares.

2. To separate by definition of terms or logical division of a subject with regard to difference; as, to distinguish sounds into high and low. Moses distinguished the causes of the flood into those that belong to the heavens, and those that belong to the earth. T. Burnet.

3. To recognize or discern by marks, signs, or characteristic quality or qualities; to know and discriminate (anything) from other things with which it might be confounded; as, to distinguish the sound of a drum. We are enabled to distinguish good from evil, as well as truth from falsehood. Watts. Nor more can you distinguish of a man, Than of his outward show. Shak.

4. To constitute a difference; to make to differ. Who distinguisheth thee 1 Cor. iv. 7. (Douay version).

5. To separate from others by a mark of honor; to make eminent or known; to confer distinction upon; -- with by or for."To distinguish themselves by means never tried before." Johnson.

Syn. -- To mark; discriminate; differentiate; characterize; discern; perceive; signalize; honor; glorify.

DISTINGUISH Dis*tin"guish, v. i.

1. To make distinctions; to perceive the difference; to exercise discrimination; -- with between; as, a judge distinguishes between cases apparently similar, but differing in principle.

2. To become distinguished or distinctive; to make one's self or itself discernible. [R.] The little embryo . . . first distinguishes into a little knot. Jer. Taylor.

DISTINGUISHABLE Dis*tin"guish*a*ble, a.

1. Capable of being distinguished; separable; divisible; discernible; capable of recognition; as, a tree at a distance is distinguishable from a shrub. A simple idea being in itself uncompounded . . . is not distinguishable into different ideas. Locke.

2. Worthy of note or special regard. Swift.

DISTINGUISHABLENESS Dis*tin"guish*a*ble*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being distinguishable.

DISTINGUISHABLY Dis*tin"guish*a*bly, adv.

Defn: So as to be distinguished.

DISTINGUISHED Dis*tin"guished, a.

1. Marked; special. The most distinguished politeness. Mad. D' Arblay.

2. Separated from others by distinct difference; having, or indicating, superiority; eminent or known; illustrious; -- applied to persons and deeds.

Syn. -- Marked; noted; famous; conspicuous; celebrated; transcendent; eminent; illustrious; extraordinary; prominent. -- Distinguished, Eminent, Conspicuous, Celebrated, Illustrious. A man is eminent, when he stands high as compared with those around him; conspicuous, when he is so elevated as to be seen and observed; distinguished, when he has something which makes him stand apart from others in the public view; celebrated, when he is widely spoken of with honor and respect; illustrious, when a splendor is thrown around him which confers the highest dignity.

DISTINGUISHEDLY Dis*tin"guish*ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In a distinguished manner. [R.] Swift.

DISTINGUISHER Dis*tin"guish*er, n.

1. One who, or that which, distinguishes or separates one thing from another by marks of diversity. Sir T. Browne.

2. One who discerns accurately the difference of things; a nice or judicious observer. Dryden.

DISTINGUISHING Dis*tin"guish*ing, a.

Defn: Constituting difference, or distinction from everything else; distinctive; peculiar; characteristic. The distinguishing doctrines of our holy religion. Locke. Distinguishing pennant (Naut.), a special pennant by which any particular vessel in a fleet is recognized and signaled. Simmonds.

DISTINGUISHINGLY Dis*tin"guish*ing*ly, adv.

Defn: With distinction; with some mark of preference. Pope.

DISTINGUISHMENT Dis*tin"guish*ment, n.

Defn: Observation of difference; distinction. Graunt.

DISTITLE Dis*ti"tle, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of title or right. [R.] B. Jonson.

DISTOMA Dis"to*ma, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A genus of parasitic, trematode worms, having two suckers for attaching themselves to the part they infest. See 1st Fluke,

2.

DISTORT Dis*tort", a. Etym: [L. distortus, p. p. of distorquere to twist, distort; dis- + torquere to twist. See Torsion.]

Defn: Distorted; misshapen. [Obs.] Her face was ugly and her mouth distort. Spenser.

DISTORT Dis*tort", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Distorting.]

1. To twist of natural or regular shape; to twist aside physically; as, to distort the limbs, or the body. Whose face was distorted with pain. Thackeray.

2. To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally. Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson.

3. To wrest from the true meaning; to pervert; as, to distort passages of Scripture, or their meaning.

Syn. -- To twist; wrest; deform; pervert.

DISTORTER Dis*tort"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, distorts.

DISTORTION Dis*tor"tion, n. Etym: [L. distortio: cf. F. distortion.]

1. The act of distorting, or twisting out of natural or regular shape; a twisting or writhing motion; as, the distortions of the face or body.

2. A wresting from the true meaning. Bp. Wren.

3. The state of being distorted, or twisted out of shape or out of true position; crookedness; perversion.

4. (Med.)

Defn: An unnatural deviation of shape or position of any part of the body producing visible deformity.

DISTORTIVE Dis*tort"ive, a.

Defn: Causing distortion.

DISTRACT Dis*tract", a. Etym: [L. distractus, p. p. of distrahere to draw asunder; dis- + trahere to draw. See Trace, and cf. Distraught.]

1. Separated; drawn asunder. [Obs.]

2. Insane; mad. [Obs.] Drayton.

DISTRACT Dis*tract", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distracted, old p. p. Distraught; p. pr. & vb. n. Distracting.]

1. To draw apart or away; to divide; to disjoin. A city . . . distracted from itself. Fuller.

2. To draw (the sight, mind, or attention) in different directions; to perplex; to confuse; as, to distract the eye; to distract the attention. Mixed metaphors . . . distract the imagination. Goldsmith.

3. To agitate by conflicting passions, or by a variety of motives or of cares; to confound; to harass. Horror and doubt distract His troubled thoughts. Milton.

4. To unsettle the reason of; to render insane; to craze; to madden; -- most frequently used in the participle, distracted. A poor mad soul; . . . poverty hath distracted her. Shak.

DISTRACTED Dis*tract"ed, a.

Defn: Mentally disordered; unsettled; mad. My distracted mind. Pope.

DISTRACTEDLY Dis*tract"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: Disjointedly; madly. Shak.

DISTRACTEDNESS Dis*tract"ed*ness, n.

Defn: A state of being distracted; distraction. Bp. Hall.

DISTRACTER Dis*tract"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, distracts away.

DISTRACTFUL Dis*tract"ful, a.

Defn: Distracting. [R.] Heywood.

DISTRACTIBLE Dis*tract"i*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being drawn aside or distracted.

DISTRACTILE Dis*tract"ile, a. (Bot.)

Defn: Tending or serving to draw apart.

DISTRACTING Dis*tract"ing, a.

Defn: Tending or serving to distract.

DISTRACTION Dis*trac"tion, n. Etym: [L. distractio: cf. F. distraction.]

1. The act of distracting; a drawing apart; separation. To create distractions among us. Bp. Burnet.

2. That which diverts attention; a diversion. "Domestic distractions." G. Eliot.

3. A diversity of direction; detachment. [Obs.] His power went out in such distractions as Beguiled all species. Shak.

4. State in which the attention is called in different ways; confusion; perplexity. That ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction. 1 Cor. vii. 3

5. Confusion of affairs; tumult; disorder; as, political distractions. Never was known a night of such distraction. Dryden.

6. Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair. The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.

7. Derangement of the mind; madness. Atterbury.

Syn. -- Perplexity; confusion; disturbance; disorder; dissension; tumult; derangement; madness; raving; franticness; furiousness.

DISTRACTIOUS Dis*trac"tious, a.

Defn: Distractive. [Obs.]

DISTRACTIVE Dis*trac"tive, a.

Defn: Causing perplexity; distracting. "Distractive thoughts." Bp. Hall.

DISTRAIN Dis*train", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Distrained; p. pr. & vb. n. Distraining.] Etym: [OE. destreinen to force, OF. destreindre to press, oppress, force, fr. L. distringere, districtum, to draw asunder, hinder, molest, LL., to punish severely; di- = stringere to draw tight, press together. See Strain, and cf. Distress, District, Distraint.]

1. To press heavily upon; to bear down upon with violence; hence, to constrain or compel; to bind; to distress, torment, or afflict. [Obs.] "Distrained with chains." Chaucer.

2. To rend; to tear. [Obs.] Neither guile nor force might it [a net] distrain. Spenser.

3. (Law) (a) To seize, as a pledge or indemnification; to take possession of as security for nonpayment of rent, the reparation of an injury done, etc.; to take by distress; as, to distrain goods for rent, or of an amercement. (b) To subject to distress; to coerce; as, to distrain a person by his goods and chattels.

DISTRAIN Dis*train", v. i.

Defn: To levy a distress. Upon whom I can distrain for debt. Camden.

DISTRAINABLE Dis*train"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being, or liable to be, distrained. Blackstone.

DISTRAINER Dis*train"er, n.

Defn: Same as Distrainor.

DISTRAINOR Dis*train"or, n. (Law)

Defn: One who distrains; the party distraining goods or chattels. Blackstone.

DISTRAINT Dis*traint", n. Etym: [OF. destrainte distress, force.] (Law)

Defn: The act or proceeding of seizing personal property by distress. Abbott.

DISTRAIT Dis`trait", a. Etym: [F. See Distract.]

Defn: Absent-minded; lost in thought; abstracted.

DISTRAUGHT Dis*traught", p. p. & a. Etym: [OE. distract, distrauht. See Distract, a.]

1. Torn asunder; separated. [Obs.] "His greedy throat . . . distraught." Spenser.