| Words | Parts of Speech | Meaning/Definition/Similar Words |
|---|---|---|
| dabb | noun | A large, spine-tailed lizard (Uromastix spinipes), found in Egypt, Arabia, and Palestine; — called also dhobb, and dhabb. |
| dace | noun | A small European cyprinoid fish (Squalius leuciscus or Leuciscus vulgaris); — called also dare. |
| dade | verb t. | To hold up by leading strings or by the hand, as a child while he toddles., To walk unsteadily, as a child in leading strings, or just learning to walk; to move slowly. |
| dado | noun | That part of a pedestal included between the base and the cornice (or surbase); the die. See Illust. of Column., In any wall, that part of the basement included between the base and the base course. See Base course, under Base., In interior decoration, the lower part of the wall of an apartment when adorned with moldings, or otherwise specially decorated. |
| daff | verb t. | To cast aside; to put off; to doff., A stupid, blockish fellow; a numskull., To act foolishly; to be foolish or sportive; to toy., To daunt. |
| daft | adjective | Stupid; foolish; idiotic; also, delirious; insane; as, he has gone daft., Gay; playful; frolicsome. |
| dago | noun | A nickname given to a person of Spanish (or, by extension, Portuguese or Italian) descent. |
| dais | noun | The high or principal table, at the end of a hall, at which the chief guests were seated; also, the chief seat at the high table., A platform slightly raised above the floor of a hall or large room, giving distinction to the table and seats placed upon it for the chief guests., A canopy over the seat of a person of dignity. |
| dale | noun | A low place between hills; a vale or valley., A trough or spout to carry off water, as from a pump. |
| dalf | imp. of Delve. | |
| dame | noun | A mistress of a family, who is a lady; a woman in authority; especially, a lady., The mistress of a family in common life, or the mistress of a common school; as, a dame’s school., A woman in general, esp. an elderly woman., A mother; — applied to human beings and quadrupeds. |
| damn | verb t. | To condemn; to declare guilty; to doom; to adjudge to punishment; to sentence; to censure., To doom to punishment in the future world; to consign to perdition; to curse., To condemn as bad or displeasing, by open expression, as by denuciation, hissing, hooting, etc., To invoke damnation; to curse. |
| damp | noun | Moisture; humidity; fog; fogginess; vapor., Dejection; depression; cloud of the mind., A gaseous product, formed in coal mines, old wells, pints, etc., Being in a state between dry and wet; moderately wet; moist; humid., Dejected; depressed; sunk., To render damp; to moisten; to make humid, or moderately wet; to dampen; as, to damp cloth., To put out, as fire; to depress or deject; to deaden; to cloud; to check or restrain, as action or vigor; to make dull; to weaken; to discourage. |
| dane | noun | A native, or a naturalized inhabitant, of Denmark. |
| dang | imp. of Ding., To dash., of Ding | |
| dank | adjective | Damp; moist; humid; wet., Moisture; humidity; water., A small silver coin current in Persia. |
| dare | verb i. | To have adequate or sufficient courage for any purpose; to be bold or venturesome; not to be afraid; to venture., To have courage for; to attempt courageously; to venture to do or to undertake., To challenge; to provoke; to defy., The quality of daring; venturesomeness; boldness; dash., Defiance; challenge., To lurk; to lie hid., To terrify; to daunt., A small fish; the dace. |
| darg | noun | Alt. of Dargue |
| dark | adjective | Destitute, or partially destitute, of light; not receiving, reflecting, or radiating light; wholly or partially black, or of some deep shade of color; not light-colored; as, a dark room; a dark day; dark cloth; dark paint; a dark complexion., Not clear to the understanding; not easily seen through; obscure; mysterious; hidden., Destitute of knowledge and culture; in moral or intellectual darkness; unrefined; ignorant., Evincing black or foul traits of character; vile; wicked; atrocious; as, a dark villain; a dark deed., Foreboding evil; gloomy; jealous; suspicious., Deprived of sight; blind., Absence of light; darkness; obscurity; a place where there is little or no light., The condition of ignorance; gloom; secrecy., A dark shade or dark passage in a painting, engraving, or the like; as, the light and darks are well contrasted., To darken to obscure. |
| darn | verb t. | To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn or thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or thread., A place mended by darning., A colloquial euphemism for Damn. |
| darr | noun | The European black tern. |
| dart | noun | A pointed missile weapon, intended to be thrown by the hand; a short lance; a javelin; hence, any sharp-pointed missile weapon, as an arrow., Anything resembling a dart; anything that pierces or wounds like a dart., A spear set as a prize in running., A fish; the dace. See Dace., To throw with a sudden effort or thrust, as a dart or other missile weapon; to hurl or launch., To throw suddenly or rapidly; to send forth; to emit; to shoot; as, the sun darts forth his beams., To fly or pass swiftly, as a dart., To start and run with velocity; to shoot rapidly along; as, the deer darted from the thicket. |
| dase | verb t. | See Daze. |
| dash | verb t. | To throw with violence or haste; to cause to strike violently or hastily; — often used with against., To break, as by throwing or by collision; to shatter; to crust; to frustrate; to ruin., To put to shame; to confound; to confuse; to abash; to depress., To throw in or on in a rapid, careless manner; to mix, reduce, or adulterate, by throwing in something of an inferior quality; to overspread partially; to bespatter; to touch here and there; as, to dash wine with water; to dash paint upon a picture., To form or sketch rapidly or carelessly; to execute rapidly, or with careless haste; — with off; as, to dash off a review or sermon., To erase by a stroke; to strike out; knock out; — with out; as, to dash out a word., To rust with violence; to move impetuously; to strike violently; as, the waves dash upon rocks., Violent striking together of two bodies; collision; crash., A sudden check; abashment; frustration; ruin; as, his hopes received a dash., A slight admixture, infusion, or adulteration; a partial overspreading; as, wine with a dash of water; red with a dash of purple., A rapid movement, esp. one of short duration; a quick stroke or blow; a sudden onset or rush; as, a bold dash at the enemy; a dash of rain., Energy in style or action; animation; spirit., A vain show; a blustering parade; a flourish; as, to make or cut a great dash., A mark or line [–], in writing or printing, denoting a sudden break, stop, or transition in a sentence, or an abrupt change in its construction, a long or significant pause, or an unexpected or epigrammatic turn of sentiment. Dashes are also sometimes used instead of marks or parenthesis., The sign of staccato, a small mark [/] denoting that the note over which it is placed is to be performed in a short, distinct manner., The line drawn through a figure in the thorough bass, as a direction to raise the interval a semitone., A short, spirited effort or trial of speed upon a race course; — used in horse racing, when a single trial constitutes the race. |
| data | noun pl. | See Datum., of Datum |
| date | noun | The fruit of the date palm; also, the date palm itself., That addition to a writing, inscription, coin, etc., which specifies the time (as day, month, and year) when the writing or inscription was given, or executed, or made; as, the date of a letter, of a will, of a deed, of a coin. etc., The point of time at which a transaction or event takes place, or is appointed to take place; a given point of time; epoch; as, the date of a battle., Assigned end; conclusion., Given or assigned length of life; dyration., To note the time of writing or executing; to express in an instrument the time of its execution; as, to date a letter, a bond, a deed, or a charter., To note or fix the time of, as of an event; to give the date of; as, to date the building of the pyramids., To have beginning; to begin; to be dated or reckoned; — with from. |
| daub | verb t. | To smear with soft, adhesive matter, as pitch, slime, mud, etc.; to plaster; to bedaub; to besmear., To paint in a coarse or unskillful manner., To cover with a specious or deceitful exterior; to disguise; to conceal., To flatter excessively or glossy., To put on without taste; to deck gaudily., To smear; to play the flatterer., A viscous, sticky application; a spot smeared or dabed; a smear., A picture coarsely executed. |
| dauk | verb t. | See Dawk, v. t., to cut or gush. |
| daun | noun | A variant of Dan, a title of honor. |
| dauw | noun | The striped quagga, or Burchell’s zebra, of South Africa (Asinus Burchellii); — called also peechi, or peetsi. |
| dawe | noun | Day. |
| dawk | noun | See Dak., To cut or mark with an incision; to gash., A hollow, crack, or cut, in timber. |
| dawn | verb i. | To begin to grow light in the morning; to grow light; to break, or begin to appear; as, the day dawns; the morning dawns., To began to give promise; to begin to appear or to expand., The break of day; the first appearance of light in the morning; show of approaching sunrise., First opening or expansion; first appearance; beginning; rise. |
| daze | verb t. | To stupefy with excess of light; with a blow, with cold, or with fear; to confuse; to benumb., The state of being dazed; as, he was in a daze., A glittering stone. |
| dead | adjective | Deprived of life; — opposed to alive and living; reduced to that state of a being in which the organs of motion and life have irrevocably ceased to perform their functions; as, a dead tree; a dead man., Destitute of life; inanimate; as, dead matter., Resembling death in appearance or quality; without show of life; deathlike; as, a dead sleep., Still as death; motionless; inactive; useless; as, dead calm; a dead load or weight., So constructed as not to transmit sound; soundless; as, a dead floor., Unproductive; bringing no gain; unprofitable; as, dead capital; dead stock in trade., Lacking spirit; dull; lusterless; cheerless; as, dead eye; dead fire; dead color, etc., Monotonous or unvaried; as, a dead level or pain; a dead wall., Sure as death; unerring; fixed; complete; as, a dead shot; a dead certainty., Bringing death; deadly., Wanting in religious spirit and vitality; as, dead faith; dead works., Flat; without gloss; — said of painting which has been applied purposely to have this effect., Not brilliant; not rich; thus, brown is a dead color, as compared with crimson., Cut off from the rights of a citizen; deprived of the power of enjoying the rights of property; as, one banished or becoming a monk is civilly dead., Not imparting motion or power; as, the dead spindle of a lathe, etc. See Spindle., To a degree resembling death; to the last degree; completely; wholly., The most quiet or deathlike time; the period of profoundest repose, inertness, or gloom; as, the dead of winter., One who is dead; — commonly used collectively., To make dead; to deaden; to deprive of life, force, or vigor., To die; to lose life or force. |
| deaf | adjective | Wanting the sense of hearing, either wholly or in part; unable to perceive sounds; hard of hearing; as, a deaf man., Unwilling to hear or listen; determinedly inattentive; regardless; not to be persuaded as to facts, argument, or exhortation; — with to; as, deaf to reason., Deprived of the power of hearing; deafened., Obscurely heard; stifled; deadened., Decayed; tasteless; dead; as, a deaf nut; deaf corn., To deafen. |
| deal | noun | A part or portion; a share; hence, an indefinite quantity, degree, or extent, degree, or extent; as, a deal of time and trouble; a deal of cold., The process of dealing cards to the players; also, the portion disturbed., Distribution; apportionment., An arrangement to attain a desired result by a combination of interested parties; — applied to stock speculations and political bargains., The division of a piece of timber made by sawing; a board or plank; particularly, a board or plank of fir or pine above seven inches in width, and exceeding six feet in length. If narrower than this, it is called a batten; if shorter, a deal end., Wood of the pine or fir; as, a floor of deal., To divide; to separate in portions; hence, to give in portions; to distribute; to bestow successively; — sometimes with out., Specifically: To distribute, as cards, to the players at the commencement of a game; as, to deal the cards; to deal one a jack., To make distribution; to share out in portions, as cards to the players., To do a distributing or retailing business, as distinguished from that of a manufacturer or producer; to traffic; to trade; to do business; as, he deals in flour., To act as an intermediary in business or any affairs; to manage; to make arrangements; — followed by between or with., To conduct one’s self; to behave or act in any affair or towards any one; to treat., To contend (with); to treat (with), by way of opposition, check, or correction; as, he has turbulent passions to deal with. |
| dean | noun | A dignitary or presiding officer in certain ecclesiastical and lay bodies; esp., an ecclesiastical dignitary, subordinate to a bishop., The collegiate officer in the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, England, who, besides other duties, has regard to the moral condition of the college., The head or presiding officer in the faculty of some colleges or universities., A registrar or secretary of the faculty in a department of a college, as in a medical, or theological, or scientific department., The chief or senior of a company on occasion of ceremony; as, the dean of the diplomatic corps; — so called by courtesy. |
| dear | superl. | Bearing a high price; high-priced; costly; expensive., Marked by scarcity or dearth, and exorbitance of price; as, a dear year., Highly valued; greatly beloved; cherished; precious., Hence, close to the heart; heartfelt; present in mind; engaging the attention., Of agreeable things and interests., Of disagreeable things and antipathies., A dear one; lover; sweetheart., Dearly; at a high price., To endear. |
| deas | noun | See Dais. |
| debt | noun | That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another, or to perform for his benefit; thing owed; obligation; liability., A duty neglected or violated; a fault; a sin; a trespass., An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money alleged to be due. |
| deck | verb t. | To cover; to overspread., To dress, as the person; to clothe; especially, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance; to array; to adorn; to embellish., To furnish with a deck, as a vessel., The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks., The upper part or top of a mansard roof or curb roof when made nearly flat., The roof of a passenger car., A pack or set of playing cards., A heap or store. |
| dede | adjective | Dead. |
| deed | adjective | Dead., That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an action; a thing done; — a word of extensive application, including, whatever is done, good or bad, great or small., Illustrious act; achievement; exploit., Power of action; agency; efficiency., Fact; reality; — whence we have indeed., A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract., Performance; — followed by of., To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son. |
| deem | verb | To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn., To account; to esteem; to think; to judge; to hold in opinion; to regard., To be of opinion; to think; to estimate; to opine; to suppose., To pass judgment., Opinion; judgment. |
| deep | superl. | Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea., Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep., Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley., Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; — opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot., Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning., Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror., Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson., Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy., Muddy; boggy; sandy; — said of roads., To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply., That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; a great depth., That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss. |
| deer | noun sing. & pl. | Any animal; especially, a wild animal., A ruminant of the genus Cervus, of many species, and of related genera of the family Cervidae. The males, and in some species the females, have solid antlers, often much branched, which are shed annually. Their flesh, for which they are hunted, is called venison. |
| dees | noun pl. | Dice., A dais. |
| deev | noun | See Dev. |
| deft | adjective | Apt; fit; dexterous; clever; handy; spruce; neat. |
| defy | verb t. | To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce., To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion., A challenge. |
| degu | noun | A small South American rodent (Octodon Cumingii), of the family Octodontidae. |
| deil | noun | Devil; — spelt also deel. |
| deis | noun | See Dais. |
| dele | imperative sing. | Erase; remove; — a direction to cancel something which has been put in type; usually expressed by a peculiar form of d, thus: /., To erase; to cancel; to delete; to mark for omission., To deal; to divide; to distribute. |
| delf | noun | A mine; a quarry; a pit dug; a ditch., Same as Delftware. |
| dell | noun | A small, retired valley; a ravine., A young woman; a wench. |
| deme | noun | A territorial subdivision of Attica (also of modern Greece), corresponding to a township., An undifferentiated aggregate of cells or plastids. |
| demi | noun | See Demy, n. |
| demy | noun | A printing and a writing paper of particular sizes. See under Paper., A half fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford., Pertaining to, or made of, the size of paper called demy; as, a demy book. |
| dent | noun | A stroke; a blow., A slight depression, or small notch or hollow, made by a blow or by pressure; an indentation., To make a dent upon; to indent., A tooth, as of a card, a gear wheel, etc. |
| deny | verb t. | To declare not to be true; to gainsay; to contradict; — opposed to affirm, allow, or admit., To refuse (to do something or to accept something); to reject; to decline; to renounce., To refuse to grant; to withhold; to refuse to gratify or yield to; as, to deny a request., To disclaim connection with, responsibility for, and the like; to refuse to acknowledge; to disown; to abjure; to disavow., To answer in /// negative; to declare an assertion not to be true. |
| dere | verb t. | To hurt; to harm; to injure., Harm. |
| derf | adjective | Strong; powerful; fierce. |
| derk | adjective | Dark. |
| derm | verb t. | The integument of animal; the skin., See Dermis. |
| dern | noun | A gatepost or doorpost., Hidden; concealed; secret., Solitary; sad. |
| desk | noun | A table, frame, or case, usually with sloping top, but often with flat top, for the use writers and readers. It often has a drawer or repository underneath., A reading table or lectern to support the book from which the liturgical service is read, differing from the pulpit from which the sermon is preached; also (esp. in the United States), a pulpit. Hence, used symbolically for “the clerical profession.”, To shut up, as in a desk; to treasure. |
| dess | noun | Dais. |
| deva | noun | A god; a deity; a divine being; an idol; a king. |
| deve | adjective | Deaf. |
| devi | noun | |
| dewy | adjective | Pertaining to dew; resembling, consisting of, or moist with, dew., Falling gently and beneficently, like the dew., Resembling a dew-covered surface; appearing as if covered with dew. |
| deys | plural | of Dey |
| deye | verb i. | To die. |
| dhow | noun | A coasting vessel of Arabia, East Africa, and the Indian Ocean. It has generally but one mast and a lateen sail. |
| dia- | Alt. of Di- | |
| dial | noun | An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth’s axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical., The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands., A miner’s compass., To measure with a dial., To survey with a dial. |
| dian | adjective | Diana. |
| dibs | noun | A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East. |
| dice | noun | Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See Die, n., To play games with dice., To ornament with squares, diamonds, or cubes., of Die |
| dich | verb i. | To ditch. |
| dido | noun | A shrewd trick; an antic; a caper. |
| died | imp. & past participle | of Die |
| dies | plural | of Die |
| diet | noun | Course of living or nourishment; what is eaten and drunk habitually; food; victuals; fare., A course of food selected with reference to a particular state of health; prescribed allowance of food; regimen prescribed., To cause to take food; to feed., To cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules; to regulate medicinally the food of., To eat; to take one’s meals., To eat according to prescribed rules; to ear sparingly; as, the doctor says he must diet., A legislative or administrative assembly in Germany, Poland, and some other countries of Europe; a deliberative convention; a council; as, the Diet of Worms, held in 1521. |
| dika | noun | A kind of food, made from the almondlike seeds of the Irvingia Barteri, much used by natives of the west coast of Africa; — called also dika bread. |
| dike | noun | A ditch; a channel for water made by digging., An embankment to prevent inundations; a levee., A wall of turf or stone., A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of igneous rocks, filling up rents or fissures in the original strata., To surround or protect with a dike or dry bank; to secure with a bank., To drain by a dike or ditch., To work as a ditcher; to dig. |
| dill | noun | An herb (Peucedanum graveolens), the seeds of which are moderately warming, pungent, and aromatic, and were formerly used as a soothing medicine for children; — called also dillseed., To still; to calm; to soothe, as one in pain. |
| dime | noun | A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents; the tenth of a dollar. |
| dine | verb i. | To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner., To give a dinner to; to furnish with the chief meal; to feed; as, to dine a hundred men., To dine upon; to have to eat. |
| dung | of Ding, The excrement of an animal., To manure with dung., To immerse or steep, as calico, in a bath of hot water containing cow dung; — done to remove the superfluous mordant., To void excrement. | |
| ding | verb t. | To dash; to throw violently., To cause to sound or ring., To strike; to thump; to pound., To sound, as a bell; to ring; to clang., To talk with vehemence, importunity, or reiteration; to bluster., A thump or stroke, especially of a bell. |
| dink | adjective | Trim; neat., To deck; — often with out or up. |
| dint | noun | A blow; a stroke., The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by violence; a dent., Force; power; — esp. in the phrase by dint of., To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to dent. |
| dipt | of Dip | |
| dire | superl. | Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens., Evil in great degree; dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible; lamentable. |
| dirk | noun | A kind of dagger or poniard; — formerly much used by the Scottish Highlander., To stab with a dirk., Dark., To darken. |
| dirl | verb i. & t. | To thrill; to vibrate; to penetrate. |
| dirt | noun | Any foul of filthy substance, as excrement, mud, dust, etc.; whatever, adhering to anything, renders it foul or unclean; earth; as, a wagonload of dirt., Meanness; sordidness., In placer mining, earth, gravel, etc., before washing., To make foul of filthy; to dirty. |
| dis- | ., A prefix from the Latin, whence F. des, or sometimes de-, 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., A prefix from Gr. di`s- twice. See Di-. | |
| disc | noun | A flat round plate, A circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disc, a germinal disc, etc. Same as Disk. |
| dish | noun | A vessel, as a platter, a plate, a bowl, used for serving up food at the table., The food served in a dish; hence, any particular kind of food; as, a cold dish; a warm dish; a delicious dish. “A dish fit for the gods.”, The state of being concave, or like a dish, or the degree of such concavity; as, the dish of a wheel., A hollow place, as in a field., A trough about 28 inches long, 4 deep, and 6 wide, in which ore is measured., That portion of the produce of a mine which is paid to the land owner or proprietor., To put in a dish, ready for the table., To make concave, or depress in the middle, like a dish; as, to dish a wheel by inclining the spokes., To frustrate; to beat; to ruin. |
| disk | noun | A discus; a quoit., A flat, circular plate; as, a disk of metal or paper., The circular figure of a celestial body, as seen projected of the heavens., A circular structure either in plants or animals; as, a blood disk; germinal disk, etc., The whole surface of a leaf., The central part of a radiate compound flower, as in sunflower., A part of the receptacle enlarged or expanded under, or around, or even on top of, the pistil., The anterior surface or oral area of coelenterate animals, as of sea anemones., The lower side of the body of some invertebrates, especially when used for locomotion, when it is often called a creeping disk., In owls, the space around the eyes. |
| dite | verb t. | To prepare for action or use; to make ready; to dight. |
| ditt | noun | See Dit, n., 2. |
| dove | of Dive, A pigeon of the genus Columba and various related genera. The species are numerous., A word of endearment for one regarded as pure and gentle. | |
| dive | verb i. | To plunge into water head foremost; to thrust the body under, or deeply into, water or other fluid., Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore., To plunge (a person or thing) into water; to dip; to duck., To explore by diving; to plunge into., A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives, literally or figuratively., A place of low resort. |
| dizz | verb t. | To make dizzy; to astonish; to puzzle. |
| done | past participle | of Do, p. p. from Do, and formerly the infinitive., Performed; executed; finished., It is done or agreed; let it be a match or bargain; — used elliptically., Given; executed; issued; made public; — used chiefly in the clause giving the date of a proclamation or public act. |
| doab | A tongue or tract of land included between two rivers; as, the doab between the Ganges and the Jumna. | |
| doat | verb i. | See Dote. |
| dock | noun | A genus of plants (Rumex), some species of which are well-known weeds which have a long taproot and are difficult of extermination., The solid part of an animal’s tail, as distinguished from the hair; the stump of a tail; the part of a tail left after clipping or cutting., A case of leather to cover the clipped or cut tail of a horse., to cut off, as the end of a thing; to curtail; to cut short; to clip; as, to dock the tail of a horse., To cut off a part from; to shorten; to deduct from; to subject to a deduction; as, to dock one’s wages., To cut off, bar, or destroy; as, to dock an entail., An artificial basin or an inclosure in connection with a harbor or river, — used for the reception of vessels, and provided with gates for keeping in or shutting out the tide., The slip or water way extending between two piers or projecting wharves, for the reception of ships; — sometimes including the piers themselves; as, to be down on the dock., The place in court where a criminal or accused person stands., To draw, law, or place (a ship) in a dock, for repairing, cleaning the bottom, etc. |
| dodd | verb t. | Alt. of Dod |
| dodo | noun | A large, extinct bird (Didus ineptus), formerly inhabiting the Island of Mauritius. It had short, half-fledged wings, like those of the ostrich, and a short neck and legs; — called also dronte. It was related to the pigeons. |
| doer | verb t. & i. | One who does; one performs or executes; one who is wont and ready to act; an actor; an agent., An agent or attorney; a factor. |
| does | The 3d pers. sing. pres. of Do. | |
| doff | verb t. | To put off, as dress; to divest one’s self of; hence, figuratively, to put or thrust away; to rid one’s self of., To strip; to divest; to undress., To put off dress; to take off the hat. |
| doge | noun | The chief magistrate in the republics of Venice and Genoa. |
| doit | noun | A small Dutch coin, worth about half a farthing; also, a similar small coin once used in Scotland; hence, any small piece of money., A thing of small value; as, I care not a doit. |
| doko | noun | See Lepidosiren. |
| dole | noun | grief; sorrow; lamentation., See Dolus., Distribution; dealing; apportionment., That which is dealt out; a part, share, or portion also, a scanty share or allowance., Alms; charitable gratuity or portion., A boundary; a landmark., A void space left in tillage., To deal out in small portions; to distribute, as a dole; to deal out scantily or grudgingly. |
| dolf | imp. | of Delve. |
| doll | noun | A child’s puppet; a toy baby for a little girl. |
| dolt | noun | A heavy, stupid fellow; a blockhead; a numskull; an ignoramus; a dunce; a dullard., To behave foolishly. |
| dome | noun | A building; a house; an edifice; — used chiefly in poetry., A cupola formed on a large scale., Any erection resembling the dome or cupola of a building; as the upper part of a furnace, the vertical steam chamber on the top of a boiler, etc., A prism formed by planes parallel to a lateral axis which meet above in a horizontal edge, like the roof of a house; also, one of the planes of such a form., Decision; judgment; opinion; a court decision. |
| doa | noun | Lady; mistress; madam; — a title of respect used in Spain, prefixed to the Christian name of a lady. |
| doni | noun | A clumsy craft, having one mast with a long sail, used for trading purposes on the coasts of Coromandel and Ceylon. |
| doom | verb t. | Judgment; judicial sentence; penal decree; condemnation., That to which one is doomed or sentenced; destiny or fate, esp. unhappy destiny; penalty., Ruin; death., Discriminating opinion or judgment; discrimination; discernment; decision., To judge; to estimate or determine as a judge., To pronounce sentence or judgment on; to condemn; to consign by a decree or sentence; to sentence; as, a criminal doomed to chains or death., To ordain as penalty; hence, to mulct or fine., To assess a tax upon, by estimate or at discretion., To destine; to fix irrevocably the destiny or fate of; to appoint, as by decree or by fate. |
| door | noun | An opening in the wall of a house or of an apartment, by which to go in and out; an entrance way., The frame or barrier of boards, or other material, usually turning on hinges, by which an entrance way into a house or apartment is closed and opened., Passage; means of approach or access., An entrance way, but taken in the sense of the house or apartment to which it leads. |
| doop | noun | A little copper cup in which a diamond is held while being cut. |
| dorn | noun | A British ray; the thornback. |
| dorp | noun | A hamlet. |
| dorr | noun | The dorbeetle; also, a drone or an idler. See 1st Dor., To deceive. [Obs.] See Dor, v. t., To deafen with noise. |
| dory | noun | A European fish. See Doree, and John Doree., The American wall-eyed perch; — called also dore. See Pike perch., A small, strong, flat-bottomed rowboat, with sharp prow and flaring sides. |
| dose | noun | The quantity of medicine given, or prescribed to be taken, at one time., A sufficient quantity; a portion; as much as one can take, or as falls to one to receive., Anything nauseous that one is obliged to take; a disagreeable portion thrust upon one., To proportion properly (a medicine), with reference to the patient or the disease; to form into suitable doses., To give doses to; to medicine or physic to; to give potions to, constantly and without need., To give anything nauseous to. |
| dost | 2d pers. sing. pres. | of Do. |
| dote | noun | A marriage portion. [Obs.] See 1st Dot, n., Natural endowments., To act foolishly., To be weak-minded, silly, or idiotic; to have the intellect impaired, especially by age, so that the mind wanders or wavers; to drivel., To be excessively or foolishly fond; to love to excess; to be weakly affectionate; — with on or upon; as, the mother dotes on her child., An imbecile; a dotard. |
| doth | 3d pers. sing. pres. | of Do. |
| doty | adjective | Half-rotten; as, doty timber. |
| douc | noun | A monkey (Semnopithecus nemaeus), remarkable for its varied and brilliant colors. It is a native of Cochin China. |
| dour | adjective | Hard; inflexible; obstinate; sour in aspect; hardy; bold. |
| dout | verb t. | To put out. |
| dowl | noun | Same as Dowle. |
| down | noun | Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool, The soft under feathers of birds. They have short stems with soft rachis and bards and long threadlike barbules, without hooklets., The pubescence of plants; the hairy crown or envelope of the seeds of certain plants, as of the thistle., The soft hair of the face when beginning to appear., That which is made of down, as a bed or pillow; that which affords ease and repose, like a bed of down, To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down., A bank or rounded hillock of sand thrown up by the wind along or near the shore; a flattish-topped hill; — usually in the plural., A tract of poor, sandy, undulating or hilly land near the sea, covered with fine turf which serves chiefly for the grazing of sheep; — usually in the plural., A road for shipping in the English Channel or Straits of Dover, near Deal, employed as a naval rendezvous in time of war., A state of depression; low state; abasement., In the direction of gravity or toward the center of the earth; toward or in a lower place or position; below; — the opposite of up., From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of rest; — used with verbs indicating motion., In a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at the bottom of a decent; below the horizon; of the ground; in a condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet., From a remoter or higher antiquity., From a greater to a less bulk, or from a thinner to a thicker consistence; as, to boil down in cookery, or in making decoctions., In a descending direction along; from a higher to a lower place upon or within; at a lower place in or on; as, down a hill; down a well., Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound., To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down., To go down; to descend., Downcast; as, a down look., Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial., Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway. |
| doxy | noun | A loose wench; a disreputable sweetheart. |
| doze | verb i. | To slumber; to sleep lightly; to be in a dull or stupefied condition, as if half asleep; to be drowsy., To pass or spend in drowsiness; as, to doze away one’s time., To make dull; to stupefy., A light sleep; a drowse. |
| dozy | adjective | Drowsy; inclined to doze; sleepy; sluggish; as, a dozy head. |
| drab | noun | A low, sluttish woman., A lewd wench; a strumpet., A wooden box, used in salt works for holding the salt when taken out of the boiling pans., To associate with strumpets; to wench., A kind of thick woolen cloth of a dun, or dull brownish yellow, or dull gray, color; — called also drabcloth., A dull brownish yellow or dull gray color., Of a color between gray and brown., A drab color. |
| drad | past participle & adjective | Dreaded. |
| drag | noun | A confection; a comfit; a drug., To draw slowly or heavily onward; to pull along the ground by main force; to haul; to trail; — applied to drawing heavy or resisting bodies or those inapt for drawing, with labor, along the ground or other surface; as, to drag stone or timber; to drag a net in fishing., To break, as land, by drawing a drag or harrow over it; to harrow; to draw a drag along the bottom of, as a stream or other water; hence, to search, as by means of a drag., To draw along, as something burdensome; hence, to pass in pain or with difficulty., To be drawn along, as a rope or dress, on the ground; to trail; to be moved onward along the ground, or along the bottom of the sea, as an anchor that does not hold., To move onward heavily, laboriously, or slowly; to advance with weary effort; to go on lingeringly., To serve as a clog or hindrance; to hold back., To fish with a dragnet., The act of dragging; anything which is dragged., A net, or an apparatus, to be drawn along the bottom under water, as in fishing, searching for drowned persons, etc., A kind of sledge for conveying heavy bodies; also, a kind of low car or handcart; as, a stone drag., A heavy coach with seats on top; also, a heavy carriage., A heavy harrow, for breaking up ground., Anything towed in the water to retard a ship’s progress, or to keep her head up to the wind; esp., a canvas bag with a hooped mouth, so used. See Drag sail (below)., Also, a skid or shoe, for retarding the motion of a carriage wheel., Hence, anything that retards; a clog; an obstacle to progress or enjoyment., Motion affected with slowness and difficulty, as if clogged., The bottom part of a flask or mold, the upper part being the cope., A steel instrument for completing the dressing of soft stone., The difference between the speed of a screw steamer under sail and that of the screw when the ship outruns the screw; or between the propulsive effects of the different floats of a paddle wheel. See Citation under Drag, v. i., 3. |
| dram | noun | A weight; in Apothecaries’ weight, one eighth part of an ounce, or sixty grains; in Avoirdupois weight, one sixteenth part of an ounce, or 27.34375 grains., A minute quantity; a mite., As much spirituous liquor as is usually drunk at once; as, a dram of brandy; hence, a potation or potion; as, a dram of poison., A Persian daric., To drink drams; to ply with drams. |
| drew | imp. | of Draw, of Draw. |
| draw | verb t. | To cause to move continuously by force applied in advance of the thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow., To influence to move or tend toward one’s self; to exercise an attracting force upon; to call towards itself; to attract; hence, to entice; to allure; to induce., To cause to come out for one’s use or benefit; to extract; to educe; to bring forth; as: (a) To bring or take out, or to let out, from some receptacle, as a stick or post from a hole, water from a cask or well, etc., To pull from a sheath, as a sword., To extract; to force out; to elicit; to derive., To obtain from some cause or origin; to infer from evidence or reasons; to deduce from premises; to derive., To take or procure from a place of deposit; to call for and receive from a fund, or the like; as, to draw money from a bank., To take from a box or wheel, as a lottery ticket; to receive from a lottery by the drawing out of the numbers for prizes or blanks; hence, to obtain by good fortune; to win; to gain; as, he drew a prize., To select by the drawing of lots., To remove the contents of, To drain by emptying; to suck dry., To extract the bowels of; to eviscerate; as, to draw a fowl; to hang, draw, and quarter a criminal., To take into the lungs; to inhale; to inspire; hence, also, to utter or produce by an inhalation; to heave., To extend in length; to lengthen; to protract; to stretch; to extend, as a mass of metal into wire., To run, extend, or produce, as a line on any surface; hence, also, to form by marking; to make by an instrument of delineation; to produce, as a sketch, figure, or picture., To represent by lines drawn; to form a sketch or a picture of; to represent by a picture; to delineate; hence, to represent by words; to depict; to describe., To write in due form; to prepare a draught of; as, to draw a memorial, a deed, or bill of exchange., To require (so great a depth, as of water) for floating; — said of a vessel; to sink so deep in (water); as, a ship draws ten feet of water., To withdraw., To trace by scent; to track; — a hunting term., To pull; to exert strength in drawing anything; to have force to move anything by pulling; as, a horse draws well; the sails of a ship draw well., To draw a liquid from some receptacle, as water from a well., To exert an attractive force; to act as an inducement or enticement., To have efficiency as an epispastic; to act as a sinapism; — said of a blister, poultice, etc., To have draught, as a chimney, flue, or the like; to furnish transmission to smoke, gases, etc., To unsheathe a weapon, especially a sword., To perform the act, or practice the art, of delineation; to sketch; to form figures or pictures., To become contracted; to shrink., To move; to come or go; literally, to draw one’s self; — with prepositions and adverbs; as, to draw away, to move off, esp. in racing, to get in front; to obtain the lead or increase it; to draw back, to retreat; to draw level, to move up even (with another); to come up to or overtake another; to draw off, to retire or retreat; to draw on, to advance; to draw up, to form in array; to draw near, nigh, or towards, to approach; to draw together, to come together, to collect., To make a draft or written demand for payment of money deposited or due; — usually with on or upon., To admit the action of pulling or dragging; to undergo draught; as, a carriage draws easily., To sink in water; to require a depth for floating., The act of drawing; draught., A lot or chance to be drawn., A drawn game or battle, etc., That part of a bridge which may be raised, swung round, or drawn aside; the movable part of a drawbridge. See the Note under Drawbridge. |
| dray | noun | A squirrel’s nest., A strong low cart or carriage used for heavy burdens., A kind of sledge or sled. |
| dree | verb t. | To endure; to suffer., To be able to do or endure., Wearisome; tedious. |
| dreg | noun | Corrupt or defiling matter contained in a liquid, or precipitated from it; refuse; feculence; lees; grounds; sediment; hence, the vilest and most worthless part of anything; as, the dregs of society. |
| drey | noun | A squirrel’s nest. See Dray. |
| drib | verb t. | To do by little and little, To cut off by a little at a time; to crop., To appropriate unlawfully; to filch; to defalcate., To lead along step by step; to entice., To shoot (a shaft) so as to pierce on the descent., A drop. |
| drie | verb t. | To endure. |
| drip | verb i. | To fall in drops; as, water drips from the eaves., To let fall drops of moisture or liquid; as, a wet garment drips., To let fall in drops., A falling or letting fall in drops; a dripping; that which drips, or falls in drops., That part of a cornice, sill course, or other horizontal member, which projects beyond the rest, and is of such section as to throw off the rain water. |
| droh | imp. | of Draw. |
| drop | noun | The quantity of fluid which falls in one small spherical mass; a liquid globule; a minim; hence, also, the smallest easily measured portion of a fluid; a small quantity; as, a drop of water., That which resembles, or that which hangs like, a liquid drop; as a hanging diamond ornament, an earring, a glass pendant on a chandelier, a sugarplum (sometimes medicated), or a kind of shot or slug., Same as Gutta., Any small pendent ornament., Whatever is arranged to drop, hang, or fall from an elevated position; also, a contrivance for lowering something, A door or platform opening downward; a trap door; that part of the gallows on which a culprit stands when he is to be hanged; hence, the gallows itself., A machine for lowering heavy weights, as packages, coal wagons, etc., to a ship’s deck., A contrivance for temporarily lowering a gas jet., A curtain which drops or falls in front of the stage of a theater, etc., A drop press or drop hammer., The distance of the axis of a shaft below the base of a hanger., Any medicine the dose of which is measured by drops; as, lavender drops., The depth of a square sail; — generally applied to the courses only., Act of dropping; sudden fall or descent., To pour or let fall in drops; to pour in small globules; to distill., To cause to fall in one portion, or by one motion, like a drop; to let fall; as, to drop a line in fishing; to drop a courtesy., To let go; to dismiss; to set aside; to have done with; to discontinue; to forsake; to give up; to omit., To bestow or communicate by a suggestion; to let fall in an indirect, cautious, or gentle manner; as, to drop hint, a word of counsel, etc., To lower, as a curtain, or the muzzle of a gun, etc., To send, as a letter; as, please drop me a line, a letter, word., To give birth to; as, to drop a lamb., To cover with drops; to variegate; to bedrop., To fall in drops., To fall, in general, literally or figuratively; as, ripe fruit drops from a tree; wise words drop from the lips., To let drops fall; to discharge itself in drops., To fall dead, or to fall in death., To come to an end; to cease; to pass out of mind; as, the affair dropped., To come unexpectedly; — with in or into; as, my old friend dropped in a moment., To fall or be depressed; to lower; as, the point of the spear dropped a little., To fall short of a mark., To be deep in extent; to descend perpendicularly; as, her main topsail drops seventeen yards. |
| drow | imp. | of Draw. |
| drub | verb t. | To beat with a stick; to thrash; to cudgel., A blow with a cudgel; a thump. |
| drug | verb i. | To drudge; to toil laboriously., A drudge (?)., Any animal, vegetable, or mineral substance used in the composition of medicines; any stuff used in dyeing or in chemical operations., Any commodity that lies on hand, or is not salable; an article of slow sale, or in no demand., To prescribe or administer drugs or medicines., To affect or season with drugs or ingredients; esp., to stupefy by a narcotic drug. Also Fig., To tincture with something offensive or injurious., To dose to excess with, or as with, drugs. |
| drum | noun | An instrument of percussion, consisting either of a hollow cylinder, over each end of which is stretched a piece of skin or vellum, to be beaten with a stick; or of a metallic hemisphere (kettledrum) with a single piece of skin to be so beaten; the common instrument for marking time in martial music; one of the pair of tympani in an orchestra, or cavalry band., Anything resembling a drum in form, A sheet iron radiator, often in the shape of a drum, for warming an apartment by means of heat received from a stovepipe, or a cylindrical receiver for steam, etc., A small cylindrical box in which figs, etc., are packed., The tympanum of the ear; — often, but incorrectly, applied to the tympanic membrane., One of the cylindrical, or nearly cylindrical, blocks, of which the shaft of a column is composed; also, a vertical wall, whether circular or polygonal in plan, carrying a cupola or dome., A cylinder on a revolving shaft, generally for the purpose of driving several pulleys, by means of belts or straps passing around its periphery; also, the barrel of a hoisting machine, on which the rope or chain is wound., See Drumfish., A noisy, tumultuous assembly of fashionable people at a private house; a rout., A tea party; a kettledrum., To beat a drum with sticks; to beat or play a tune on a drum., To beat with the fingers, as with drumsticks; to beat with a rapid succession of strokes; to make a noise like that of a beaten drum; as, the ruffed grouse drums with his wings., To throb, as the heart., To go about, as a drummer does, to gather recruits, to draw or secure partisans, customers, etc,; — with for., To execute on a drum, as a tune., (With out) To expel ignominiously, with beat of drum; as, to drum out a deserter or rogue from a camp, etc., (With up) To assemble by, or as by, beat of drum; to collect; to gather or draw by solicitation; as, to drum up recruits; to drum up customers. |
| duad | noun | A union of two; duality. |
| dual | adjective | Expressing, or consisting of, the number two; belonging to two; as, the dual number of nouns, etc. , in Greek. |
| duan | noun | A division of a poem corresponding to a canto; a poem or song. |
| dubb | noun | The Syrian bear. See under Bear. |
| duck | noun | A pet; a darling., A linen (or sometimes cotton) fabric, finer and lighter than canvas, — used for the lighter sails of vessels, the sacking of beds, and sometimes for men’s clothing., The light clothes worn by sailors in hot climates., To thrust or plunge under water or other liquid and suddenly withdraw., To plunge the head of under water, immediately withdrawing it; as, duck the boy., To bow; to bob down; to move quickly with a downward motion., To go under the surface of water and immediately reappear; to dive; to plunge the head in water or other liquid; to dip., To drop the head or person suddenly; to bow., Any bird of the subfamily Anatinae, family Anatidae., A sudden inclination of the bead or dropping of the person, resembling the motion of a duck in water. |
| duct | noun | Any tube or canal by which a fluid or other substance is conducted or conveyed., One of the vessels of an animal body by which the products of glandular secretion are conveyed to their destination., A large, elongated cell, either round or prismatic, usually found associated with woody fiber., Guidance; direction. |
| dude | noun | A kind of dandy; especially, one characterized by an ultrafashionable style of dress and other affectations. |
| duds | noun pl. | Old or inferior clothes; tattered garments., Effects, in general. |
| duel | noun | A combat between two persons, fought with deadly weapons, by agreement. It usually arises from an injury done or an affront given by one to the other., To fight in single combat. |
| duet | noun | A composition for two performers, whether vocal or instrumental. |
| duff | noun | Dough or paste., A stiff flour pudding, boiled in a bag; — a term used especially by seamen; as, plum duff. |
| duke | noun | A leader; a chief; a prince., In England, one of the highest order of nobility after princes and princesses of the royal blood and the four archbishops of England and Ireland., In some European countries, a sovereign prince, without the title of king., To play the duke. |
| dull | superl. | Slow of understanding; wanting readiness of apprehension; stupid; doltish; blockish., Slow in action; sluggish; unready; awkward., Insensible; unfeeling., Not keen in edge or point; lacking sharpness; blunt., Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of color or luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire or lamp; a dull red or yellow; a dull mirror., Heavy; gross; cloggy; insensible; spiritless; lifeless; inert., Furnishing little delight, spirit, or variety; uninteresting; tedious; cheerless; gloomy; melancholy; depressing; as, a dull story or sermon; a dull occupation or period; hence, cloudy; overcast; as, a dull day., To deprive of sharpness of edge or point., To make dull, stupid, or sluggish; to stupefy, as the senses, the feelings, the perceptions, and the like., To render dim or obscure; to sully; to tarnish., To deprive of liveliness or activity; to render heavy; to make inert; to depress; to weary; to sadden., To become dull or stupid. |
| duly | adverb | In a due, fit, or becoming manner; as it (anything) ought to be; properly; regularly. |
| dumb | adjective | Destitute of the power of speech; unable; to utter articulate sounds; as, the dumb brutes., Not willing to speak; mute; silent; not speaking; not accompanied by words; as, dumb show., Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color., To put to silence. |
| dump | noun | A thick, ill-shapen piece; a clumsy leaden counter used by boys in playing chuck farthing., A dull, gloomy state of the mind; sadness; melancholy; low spirits; despondency; ill humor; — now used only in the plural., Absence of mind; revery., A melancholy strain or tune in music; any tune., An old kind of dance., To knock heavily; to stump., To put or throw down with more or less of violence; hence, to unload from a cart by tilting it; as, to dump sand, coal, etc., A car or boat for dumping refuse, etc., A ground or place for dumping ashes, refuse, etc., That which is dumped., A pile of ore or rock. |
| dune | noun | A low hill of drifting sand usually formed on the coats, but often carried far inland by the prevailing winds. |
| dunt | noun | A blow. |
| dupe | noun | One who has been deceived or who is easily deceived; a gull; as, the dupe of a schemer., To deceive; to trick; to mislead by imposing on one’s credulity; to gull; as, dupe one by flattery. |
| dura | noun | Short form for Dura mater. |
| dure | adjective | Hard; harsh; severe; rough; toilsome., To last; to continue; to endure. |
| duse | noun | A demon or spirit. See Deuce. |
| dusk | adjective | Tending to darkness or blackness; moderately dark or black; dusky., Imperfect obscurity; a middle degree between light and darkness; twilight; as, the dusk of the evening., A darkish color., To make dusk., To grow dusk. |
| dust | noun | Fine, dry particles of earth or other matter, so comminuted that they may be raised and wafted by the wind; that which is crumbled too minute portions; fine powder; as, clouds of dust; bone dust., A single particle of earth or other matter., The earth, as the resting place of the dead., The earthy remains of bodies once alive; the remains of the human body., Figuratively, a worthless thing., Figuratively, a low or mean condition., Gold dust, Coined money; cash., To free from dust; to brush, wipe, or sweep away dust from; as, to dust a table or a floor., To sprinkle with dust., To reduce to a fine powder; to levigate. |
| duty | noun | That which is due; payment., That which a person is bound by moral obligation to do, or refrain from doing; that which one ought to do; service morally obligatory., Hence, any assigned service or business; as, the duties of a policeman, or a soldier; to be on duty., Specifically, obedience or submission due to parents and superiors., Respect; reverence; regard; act of respect; homage., The efficiency of an engine, especially a steam pumping engine, as measured by work done by a certain quantity of fuel; usually, the number of pounds of water lifted one foot by one bushel of coal (94 lbs. old standard), or by 1 cwt. (112 lbs., England, or 100 lbs., United States)., Tax, toll, impost, or customs; excise; any sum of money required by government to be paid on the importation, exportation, or consumption of goods. |
| dyad | noun | Two units treated as one; a couple; a pair., An element, atom, or radical having a valence or combining power of two., Having a valence or combining power of two; capable of being substituted for, combined with, or replaced by, two atoms of hydrogen; as, oxygen and calcium are dyad elements. See Valence. |
| dyas | noun | A name applied in Germany to the Permian formation, there consisting of two principal groups. |
| dyed | imp. & past participle | of Dye |
| dyer | noun | One whose occupation is to dye cloth and the like. |
| dyke | noun | See Dike. The spelling dyke is restricted by some to the geological meaning. |
| dyne | noun | The unit of force, in the C. G. S. (Centimeter Gram Second) system of physical units; that is, the force which, acting on a gram for a second, generates a velocity of a centimeter per second. |
| dys- | An inseparable prefix, fr. the Greek / hard, ill, and signifying ill, bad, hard, difficult, and the like; cf. the prefixes, Skr. dus-, Goth. tuz-, OHG. zur-, G. zer-, AS. to-, Icel. tor-, Ir. do-. |