Webster's Dictionary, 1913
Discursive adjective [ Confer French
discursif . See
Discourse , and confer
Discoursive .]
1. Passing from one thing to another; ranging over a wide field; roving; digressive; desultory. "
Discursive notices."
De Quincey. The power he [ Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive .
Hazlitt. A man rather tacit than discursive .
Carlyle. 2. Reasoning; proceeding from one ground to another, as in reasoning; argumentative. Reason is her being,
Discursive or intuitive.
Milton. --
Dis*cur"sive*ly ,
adverb --
Dis*cur"sive*ness ,
noun
Discursory adjective Argumentative; discursive; reasoning. [ R.] Bp. Hall.
Discursus noun [ Latin ] (Logic) Argumentation; ratiocination; discursive reasoning.
Discus noun ;
plural English
Discuses , Latin
Disci . [ Latin See
Disk .]
1. (a) A quoit; a circular plate of some heavy material intended to be pitched or hurled as a trial of strength and skill. (b) The exercise with the discus. » This among the Greeks was one of the chief gymnastic exercises and was included in the Pentathlon (the contest of the five exercises). The chief contest was that of throwing the discus to the greatest possible distance.
2. A disk. See Disk .
Discuss transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Discussed ;
present participle & verbal noun Discussing .] [ Latin
discussus , past participle of
discutere to strike asunder (hence came the sense
to separate mentally ,
distinguish );
dis- +
quatere to shake, strike. See
Quash .]
1. To break to pieces; to shatter. [ Obsolete]
Sir T. Browne. 2. To break up; to disperse; to scatter; to dissipate; to drive away; -- said especially of tumors. Many arts were used to discuss the beginnings of new affection.
Sir H. Wotton. A pomade . . . of virtue to discuss pimples.
Rambler. 3. To shake; to put away; to finish. [ Obsolete]
All regard of shame she had discussed .
Spenser. 4. To examine in detail or by disputation; to reason upon by presenting favorable and adverse considerations; to debate; to sift; to investigate; to ventilate. "We sat and . . .
discussed the farm . . . and the price of grain."
Tennyson. "To
discuss questions of taste."
Macaulay. 5. To deal with, in eating or drinking. [ Colloq.]
We sat quietly down and discussed a cold fowl that we had brought with us.
Sir S. Baker. 6. (Law) To examine or search thoroughly; to exhaust a remedy against, as against a principal debtor before proceeding against the surety. Burrill. Syn. -- To
Discuss ,
Examine ,
Debate . We speak of
examining a subject when we ponder it with care, in order to discover its real state, or the truth respecting it. We speak of
discussing a topic when we examine it thoroughly in its distinct parts. The word is very commonly applied to matters of opinion. We may
discuss a subject without giving in an adhesion to any conclusion. We speak of
debating a point when we examine it in mutual argumentation between opposing parties. In
debate we contend for or against some conclusion or view.
Discusser noun One who discusses; one who sifts or examines. Wood.
Discussion noun [ Latin
discussio a shaking, examination, discussion: confer French
discussion .]
1. The act or process of discussing by breaking up, or dispersing, as a tumor, or the like. 2. The act of discussing or exchanging reasons; examination by argument; debate; disputation; agitation. The liberty of discussion is the great safeguard of all other liberties.
Macaulay. Discussion of a problem or
an equation (Math.) ,
the operation of assigning different reasonable values to the arbitrary quantities and interpreting the result. Math. Dict.
Discussional adjective Pertaining to discussion.
Discussive adjective [ Confer French
discussif .]
1. (Medicine) Able or tending to discuss or disperse tumors or coagulated matter. 2. Doubt-dispelling; decisive. [ R.]
A kind of peremptory and discussive voice.
Hopkins.
Discussive noun (Medicine) A medicine that discusses or disperses morbid humors; a discutient.
Discutient adjective [ Latin
discutiens , present participle of
discutere . See
Discuss .]
(Medicine) Serving to disperse morbid matter; discussive; as, a discutient application. --
noun An agent (as a medicinal application) which serves to disperse morbid matter. "Foment with
discutiens ."
Wiseman.
Disdain noun [ Middle English
desdain ,
disdein , Old French
desdein ,
desdaing , French
dédain , from the verb. See
Disdain ,
transitive verb ]
1. A feeling of contempt and aversion; the regarding anything as unworthy of or beneath one; scorn. How my soul is moved with just disdain !
Pope. Often implying an idea of haughtiness.
Disdain and scorn ride sparkling in her eyes.
Shak. 2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion. [ Obsolete]
Most loathsome, filthy, foul, and full of vile disdain .
Spenser. 3. The state of being despised; shame. [ Obsolete]
Shak. Syn. -- Haughtiness; scorn; contempt; arrogance; pride. See
Haughtiness .
Disdain transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Disdained ;
present participle & verbal noun Disdaining .] [ Middle English
disdainen ,
desdainen , Old French
desdeigner ,
desdaigner , French
dédaigner ;
des- (L.
dis- ) +
daigner to deign, from Latin
dignari to deem worthy. See
Deign .]
1. To think unworthy; to deem unsuitable or unbecoming; as, to disdain to do a mean act. Disdaining . . . that any should bear the armor of the best knight living.
Sir P. Sidney. 2. To reject as unworthy of one's self, or as not deserving one's notice; to look with scorn upon; to scorn, as base acts, character, etc. When the Philistine . . . saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth.
1 Sam. xvii. 42. 'T is great, 't is manly to disdain disguise.
Young. Syn. -- To contemn; despise; scorn. See
Contemn .
Disdain intransitive verb To be filled with scorn; to feel contemptuous anger; to be haughty. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the marvels that he did . . . they disdained .
Genevan Testament (Matt. xxi. 15).
Disdained adjective Disdainful. [ Obsolete]
Revenge the jeering and disdained contempt
Of this proud king.
Shak.
Disdainful adjective Full of disdain; expressing disdain; scornful; contemptuous; haughty. From these
Turning disdainful to an equal good.
Akenside. --
Dis*dain"ful*ly ,
adverb --
Dis*dain"ful*ness ,
noun
Disdainishly adverb Disdainfully. [ Obsolete] Vives.
Disdainous adjective [ Old French desdeignos , desdaigneux , French dédaigneux .] Disdainful. [ Obsolete] Rom. of R.
Disdainously adverb Disdainfully. [ Obsolete] Bale.
Disdeify transitive verb To divest or deprive of deity or of a deific rank or condition. Feltham.
Disdeign transitive verb To disdain. [ Obsolete]
Guyon much disdeigned so loathly sight.
Spenser.
Disdiaclast noun [ Greek di`s- twice + diakla^n to break in twain; dia` through + kla^n to break.] (Physiol.) One of the dark particles forming the doubly refracting disks of muscle fibers.
Disdiapason noun [ Prefix dis- (Gr. ...) + diapason .] (Anc. Mus.) An interval of two octaves, or a fifteenth; -- called also bisdiapason .
Disease noun [ Middle English
disese , Old French
desaise ;
des- (L.
dis- ) +
aise ease. See
Ease .]
1. Lack of ease; uneasiness; trouble; vexation; disquiet. [ Obsolete]
So all that night they passed in great disease .
Spenser. To shield thee from diseases of the world.
Shak. 2. An alteration in the state of the body or of some of its organs, interrupting or disturbing the performance of the vital functions, and causing or threatening pain and weakness; malady; affection; illness; sickness; disorder; -- applied figuratively to the mind, to the moral character and habits, to institutions, the state, etc. Diseases desperate grown,
By desperate appliances are relieved.
Shak. The instability, injustice, and confusion introduced into the public counsels have, in truth, been the mortal diseases under which popular governments have every where perished.
Madison. Disease germ .
See under Germ . Syn. -- Distemper; ailing; ailment; malady; disorder; sickness; illness; complaint; indisposition; affection. --
Disease ,
Disorder ,
Distemper ,
Malady ,
Affection .
Disease is the leading medical term.
Disorder mean... much the same, with perhaps some slight reference to an
irregularity of the system.
Distemper is now used by physicians only of the diseases of animals.
Malady is not a medical term, and is less used than formerly in literature.
Affection has special reference to the part, organ, or function disturbed; as, his
disease is an
affection of the lungs. A
disease is usually deep- seated and permanent, or at least prolonged; a
disorder is often slight, partial, and temporary;
malady has less of a technical sense than the other terms, and refers more especially to the suffering endured. In a figurative sense we speak of a
disease mind, of
disordered faculties, and of mental
maladies .
Disease transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Diseased ;
present participle & verbal noun Diseasing .]
1. To deprive of ease; to disquiet; to trouble; to distress. [ Obsolete]
His double burden did him sore disease .
Spenser. 2. To derange the vital functions of; to afflict with disease or sickness; to disorder; -- used almost exclusively in the participle diseased . He was diseased in body and mind.
Macaulay.
Diseased adjective Afflicted with disease. It is my own diseased imagination that torments me.
W. Irving. Syn. -- See
Morbid .
Diseasedness noun The state of being diseased; a morbid state; sickness. [ R.] T. Burnet.
Diseaseful adjective 1. Causing uneasiness. [ Obsolete]
Disgraceful to the king and diseaseful to the people.
Bacon. 2. Abounding with disease; producing diseases; as, a diseaseful climate. [ R.]
Diseasefulness noun The quality of being diseaseful; trouble; trial. [ R.] Sir P. Sidney.
Diseasement noun Uneasiness; inconvenience. [ Obsolete] Bacon.
Disedge transitive verb To deprive of an edge; to blunt; to dull. Served a little to disedge
The sharpness of that pain about her heart.
Tennyson.
Disedify transitive verb To fail of edifying; to injure. [ R.]
Diselder transitive verb To deprive of an elder or elders, or of the office of an elder. [ Obsolete] Fuller.
Diselenide noun [ Prefix di- + selenide .] (Chemistry) A selenide containing two atoms of selenium in each molecule.
Disembark transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Disembarked ;
present participle & verbal noun Disembarking .] [ Prefix
dis- +
embark : confer French
désembarquer .]
To remove from on board a vessel; to put on shore; to land; to debark; as, the general disembarked the troops. Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers.
Shak.
Disembark intransitive verb To go ashore out of a ship or boat; to leave a ship; to debark. And, making fast their moorings, disembarked .
Cowper.
Disembarkation noun The act of disembarking.
Disembarkment noun Disembarkation. [ R.]
Disembarrass transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Disembarrassed ;
present participle & verbal noun Disembarrassing .] [ Prefix
dis- +
embarrass : confer French
désembarasser .]
To free from embarrassment, or perplexity; to clear; to extricate. To disembarrass himself of his companion.
Sir W. Scott.
Disembarrassment noun Freedom or relief from impediment or perplexity.
Disembay transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Disembayed ;
present participle & verbal noun Disembaying .] [ Prefix
dis- +
embay .]
To clear from a bay. Sherburne.
Disembellish transitive verb [ Prefix dis- + embellish : confer French désembellir .] To deprive of embellishment; to disadorn. Carlyle.
Disembitter transitive verb To free from
Disembodied adjective Divested of a body; ceased to be corporal; incorporeal. The disembodied spirits of the dead.
Bryant.
Disembodiment noun The act of disembodying, or the state of being disembodied.
Disembody transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Disembodied ;
present participle & verbal noun Disembodying .]
1. To divest of the body or corporeal existence. Devils embodied and disembodied .
Sir W. Scott. 2. (Mil.) To disarm and disband, as a body of soldiers. Wilhelm.
Disembogue transitive verb [
imperfect & past participle Disembogued ;
present participle & verbal noun Disemboguing .] [ Spanish
desembocar ; prefix
des- (L.
dis- ) +
embocar to put into the mouth, from
en (L.
in ) +
boca mouth, from Latin
bucca cheek. Confer
Debouch ,
Embogue .]
1. To pour out or discharge at the mouth, as a stream; to vent; to discharge into an ocean, a lake, etc. Rolling down, the steep Timavus raves,
And through nine channels disembogues his waves.
Addison. 2. To eject; to cast forth. [ R.]
Swift.
Disembogue intransitive verb To become discharged; to flow out; to find vent; to pour out contents. Volcanos bellow ere they disembogue .
Young.
Disemboguement noun The act of disemboguing; discharge. Mease.
Disembossom transitive verb To separate from the bosom. [ R.] Young.