Definite Def"i·nite noun A thing defined or determined. [ Obsolete]

Definitely Def"i·nite·ly adverb In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately.

Definiteness Def"i·nite·ness noun The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty.

Definition Def`i·ni"tion noun [ Latin definitio : confer French définition .] 1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, a telescope accurate in definition .

2. Act of ascertaining and explaining the signification; a description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the meaning of a word or term; as, the definition of "circle;" the definition of "wit;" an exact definition ; a loose definition .

Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term defined stands for.

Locke.

3. Description; sort. [ R.] "A new creature of another definition ." Jer. Taylor.

4. (Logic) An exact enunciation of the constituents which make up the logical essence.

5. (Opt.) Distinctness or clearness, as of an image formed by an optical instrument; precision in detail.

Syn. -- Definition , Explanation , Description . A definition is designed to settle a thing in its compass and extent; an explanation is intended to remove some obscurity or misunderstanding, and is therefore more extended and minute; a description enters into striking particulars with a view to interest or impress by graphic effect. It is not therefore true, though often said, that description is only an extended definition . "Logicians distinguish definitions into essential and accidental . An essential definition states what are regarded as the constituent parts of the essence of that which is to be defined; and an accidental definition lays down what are regarded as circumstances belonging to it, viz., properties or accidents, such as causes, effects, etc." Whately.

Definitional Def`i·ni"tion·al adjective Relating to definition; of the nature of a definition; employed in defining.

Definitive De·fin"i·tive adjective [ Latin definitivus : confer French définitif .] 1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express.

A strict and definitive truth.

Sir T. Browne.

Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation.

Prescott.

2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word.

3. Determined; resolved. [ Obsolete] Shak.

Definitive De·fin"i·tive noun (Gram.) A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.

» Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles . . . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so called, or else pronominal articles, such as this , that , any , other , some , all , no , none , etc. Harris (Hermes).

Definitively De·fin"i·tive·ly adverb In a definitive manner.

Definitiveness De·fin"i·tive·ness noun The quality of being definitive.

Definitude De·fin"i·tude noun Definiteness. [ R.]

Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences.

Sir W. Hamilton.

Defix De·fix" transitive verb [ Latin defixus , past participle of defigere to fix; de- + figere to fix.] To fix; to fasten; to establish. [ Obsolete] "To defix their princely seat . . . in that extreme province." Hakluyt.

Deflagrability Def`la·gra·bil"i·ty noun (Chemistry) The state or quality of being deflagrable.

The ready deflagrability . . . of saltpeter.

Boyle.

Deflagrable De·fla"gra·ble adjective [ See Deflagrate .] (Chemistry) Burning with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; hence, slightly explosive; liable to snap and crackle when heated, as salt.

Deflagrate Def"la·grate intransitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Deflagrated ; present participle & verbal noun Deflagrating .] [ Latin deflagratus , past participle of deflagrare to burn up; de- + flagrare to flame, burn.] (Chemistry) To burn with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; also, to snap and crackle with slight explosions when heated, as salt.

Deflagrate Def"la·grate transitive verb (Chemistry) To cause to burn with sudden and sparkling combustion, as by the action of intense heat; to burn or vaporize suddenly; as, to deflagrate refractory metals in the oxyhydrogen flame.

Deflagration Def`la·gra"tion noun [ Latin deflagratio : confer French déflagration .] 1. A burning up; conflagration. "Innumerable deluges and deflagrations ." Bp. Pearson.

2. (Chemistry) The act or process of deflagrating.

Deflagrator Def"la·gra`tor noun (Chemistry) A form of the voltaic battery having large plates, used for producing rapid and powerful combustion.

Deflate De·flate" transitive verb [ Prefix de- down + Latin flare , flatus to blow.] To reduce from an inflated condition.

Deflect De·flect" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Deflected ; present participle & verbal noun Deflecting .] [ Latin deflectere ; de- + flectere to bend or turn. See Flexible .] To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected .

Sitting with their knees deflected under them.

Lord (1630).

Deflect De·flect" intransitive verb To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve.

At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in the true meridian.

Sir T. Browne.

To deflect from the line of truth and reason.

Warburton.

Deflectable De·flect"a·ble adjective Capable of being deflected.

Deflected De·flect"ed adjective 1. Turned aside; deviating from a direct line or course.

2. Bent downward; deflexed.

Deflection De·flec"tion noun [ Latin deflexio , from deflectere : confer French déflexion .] 1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside; a turning from a right line or proper course; a bending, esp. downward; deviation.

The other leads to the same point, through certain deflections .

Lowth.

2. (Gunnery) The deviation of a shot or ball from its true course.

3. (Opt.) A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction.

4. (Engineering) The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from its own weight or by reason of a load.

Deflectionization De·flec`tion·i·za"tion noun The act of freeing from inflections. Earle.

Deflectionize De·flec"tion·ize transitive verb To free from inflections.

Deflectionized languages are said to be analytic.

Earle.

Deflective De·flect"ive adjective Causing deflection.

Deflective forces , forces that cause a body to deviate from its course.

Deflector De·flect"or noun (Mech.) That which deflects, as a diaphragm in a furnace, or a cone in a lamp (to deflect and mingle air and gases and help combustion).

Deflexed De·flexed" adjective Bent abruptly downward.

Deflexion De·flex"ion noun See Deflection .

Deflexure De·flex"ure noun [ From Latin deflectere , deflexum . See Deflect .] A bending or turning aside; deflection. Bailey.

Deflorate De·flo"rate adjective [ Late Latin defloratus , past participle of deflorare . See Deflour .] (Botany) Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. Gray.

Defloration Def`lo·ra"tion noun [ Late Latin defloratio : confer French défloration .] 1. The act of deflouring; as, the defloration of a virgin. Johnson.

2. That which is chosen as the flower or choicest part; careful culling or selection. [ R.]

The laws of Normandy are, in a great measure, the defloration of the English laws.

Sir M. Hale.

Deflour De·flour" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Defloured ; present participle & verbal noun Deflouring .] [ French déflorer , Late Latin deflorare ; Latin de- + flos , floris , flower. See Flower , and confer Deflorate .] 1. To deprive of flowers.

2. To take away the prime beauty and grace of; to rob of the choicest ornament.

He died innocent and before the sweetness of his soul was defloured and ravished from him.

Jer. Taylor.

3. To deprive of virginity, as a woman; to violate; to ravish; also, to seduce.

Deflourer De·flour"er noun One who deflours; a ravisher.

Deflow De·flow" intransitive verb [ Prefix de- + flow : confer Latin defluere .] To flow down. [ Obsolete] Sir T. Browne.

Deflower De·flow"er transitive verb [ Prefix de- + flower .] Same as Deflour .

An earthquake . . . deflowering the gardens.

W. Montagu.

If a man had deflowered a virgin.

Milton.

Deflowerer De·flow"er·er noun See Deflourer . Milton.

Defluous Def"lu·ous adjective [ Latin defluus , from defluere to flow down; de- + fluere to flow.] Flowing down; falling off. [ Obsolete] Bailey.

Deflux De·flux" noun [ Latin defluxus , from defluere , defluxum .] Downward flow. [ Obsolete] Bacon.

Defluxion De·flux"ion noun [ Latin defluxio .] (Medicine) A discharge or flowing of humors or fluid matter, as from the nose in catarrh; -- sometimes used synonymously with inflammation . Dunglison.

Defly Def"ly adverb Deftly. [ Obsolete] Spenser.

Defoliate, Defoliated De·fo"li·ate, De·fo"li·a`ted adjective Deprived of leaves, as by their natural fall.

Defoliation De·fo`li·a"tion noun [ Late Latin defoliare , defoliatum , to shed leaves; Latin de- + folium leaf: confer French défoliation .] The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.

Deforce De·force" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Deforced ; present participle & verbal noun Deforcing .] [ Old French deforcier ; de- or des- (L. de or dis- ) + forcier , French forcer . See Force , v. ] (Law) (a) To keep from the rightful owner; to withhold wrongfully the possession of, as of lands or a freehold. (b) (Scots Law) To resist the execution of the law; to oppose by force, as an officer in the execution of his duty. Burrill.

Deforcement De·force"ment noun [ Old French ] (Law) (a) A keeping out by force or wrong; a wrongful withholding, as of lands or tenements, to which another has a right. (b) (Scots Law) Resistance to an officer in the execution of law. Burrill.

Deforceor De·force"or noun Same as Deforciant . [ Obsolete]

Deforciant De·for"ciant noun [ Old French deforciant , present participle of deforcier . See Deforce .] (Eng. Law) (a) One who keeps out of possession the rightful owner of an estate. (b) One against whom a fictitious action of fine was brought. [ Obsolete] Burrill.

Deforciation De·for`ci·a"tion noun (Law) Same as Deforcement , noun

Deforest De·for"est transitive verb To clear of forests; to disforest. U. S. Agric. Reports.

Deform De·form" transitive verb [ imperfect & past participle Deformed ; present participle & verbal noun Deforming .] [ Latin deformare ; de- + formare to form, shape, from forma : confer French déformer . See Form .] 1. To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure.

Deformed , unfinished, sent before my time
Into this breathing world.

Shak.

2. To render displeasing; to deprive of comeliness, grace, or perfection; to dishonor.

Above those passions that this world deform .

Thomson.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
You are here: Webster > Letter D > Page 24 of 135.
« Previous ¦16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 ¦ Next »