Diminutival - Diodont

3. (Law) Omission, inaccuracy, or defect in a record.
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4. (Mus.) In counterpoint, the imitation of, or reply to, a subject, in notes of half the length or value of those the subject itself.

Syn. -- Decrease; decay; abatement; reduction; deduction; decrement.
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Diminutival (?), a. Indicating diminution; diminutive. “Diminutival forms” [of words]. Earle. -- n. A diminutive. Earle.
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Diminutive (?), a. [Cf. L. deminutivus, F. diminutif.] 1. Below the average size; very small; little.
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2. Expressing diminution; as, a diminutive word.
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3. Tending to diminish. [R.]
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Diminutive of liberty. Shaftesbury.
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Diminutive, n. 1. Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing.
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Such water flies, diminutives of nature. Shak.
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2. (Gram.) A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same kind with that denoted by the primitive; as, gosling, eaglet, lambkin.
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Babyisms and dear diminutives. Tennyson.
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☞ The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as scribble.
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Diminutively, adv. In a diminutive manner.
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Diminutiveness, n. The quality of being diminutive; smallness; littleness; minuteness.
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Dimish (?), a. See .
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Dimission (?), n. [L. dimissio. See , and cf. .] Leave to depart; a dismissing. [Obs.] Barrow.
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Dimissory (?; 277), a. [L. dimissorius: cf. F. dimissoire. See .] Sending away; dismissing to another jurisdiction; granting leave to depart.
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Coloq. Letters dimissory (Eccl.), letters given by a bishop dismissing a person who is removing into another diocese, and recommending him for reception there. Hook.
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Dimit (?), v. t. [L. dimittere to send away, le� go; di- = dis- + mittere to send. See .] To dismiss, let go, or release. [Obs.]
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Dimity (?), n. [Prob. fr. Gr. � of double thread, dimity; di- = dis- twice + � a thread of the warp; prob. through D. diemet, of F. dimite, démitte. Cf. .] A cotton fabric employed for hangings and furniture coverings, and formerly used for women's under-garments. It is of many patterns, both plain and twilled, and occasionally is printed in colors.
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Dimly, adv. In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with imperfect sight.

{ Dimmish (?), Dimmy (?), } a. Somewhat dim; as, dimmish eyes. “Dimmy clouds.” Sir P. Sidney.

Dimness, n. [AS. dimness.] 1. The state or quality � being dim; lack of brightness, clearness, or distinctness; dullness; obscurity.
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2. Dullness, or want of clearness, of vision or of intellectual perception. Dr. H. More.

Syn. -- Darkness; obscurity; gloom. See .
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Dimorph (?), n. [Gr. � two-formed; dis- twice (see ) + morfh form.] (Crystallog.) Either one of the two forms of a dimorphous substance; as, calcite and aragonite are dimorphs.
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Dimorphic (?), a. Having the property of dimorphism; dimorphous.
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Dimorphism (?), n. [Cf. F. dimorphisme.] 1. (Biol.) Difference of form between members of the same species, as when a plant has two kinds of flowers, both hermaphrodite (as in the partridge berry), or when there are two forms of one or both sexes of the same species of butterfly.
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Dimorphism is the condition of the appearance of the same species under two dissimilar forms. Darwin.
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2. (Crystallog.) Crystallization in two independent forms of the same chemical compound, as of calcium carbonate as calcite and aragonite.
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Dimorphous (?), a. [Cf. F. dimorphe.] 1. (Biol.) Characterized by dimorphism; occurring under two distinct forms, not dependent on sex; dimorphic.
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2. (Crystallog.) Crystallizing under two forms fundamentally different, while having the same chemical composition.
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Dimple (?), n. [Prob. a nasalized dim. of dip. See , and cf. .] 1. A slight natural depression or indentation on the surface of some part of the body, esp. on the cheek or chin. Milton.
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The dimple of her chin. Prior.
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2. A slight indentation on any surface.
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The garden pool's dark surface . . .
Breaks into dimples small and bright. Wordsworth.
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Dimple, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dimpled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dimpling (?).] To form dimples; to sink into depressions or little inequalities.
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And smiling eddies dimpled on the main. Dryden.
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Dimple, v. t. To mark with dimples or dimplelike depressions. Shak.
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Dimplement (?), n. The state of being dimpled, or marked with gentle depressions. [R.]
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The ground's most gentle dimplement. Mrs. Browning.
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Dimply (?), a. Full of dimples, or small depressions; dimpled; as, the dimply pool. Thomson.
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Dim-sighted (?), a. Having dim sight; lacking perception. -- Dim-sightedness, n.

dim-witted adj. mentally retarded; relatively slow in mental function.
Syn. -- half-witted, simple, simple-minded.
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Dimya (?), Dimyaria (�), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � = � + � to close.] (Zoöl.) An order of lamellibranchiate mollusks having an anterior and posterior adductor muscle, as the common clam. See .
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Dimyarian (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the Dimya. -- n. One of the Dimya.
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Dimyary (?), a. & n. (Zoöl.) Same as .
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Din (dĭn), n. [AS. dyne, dyn; akin to Icel. dynr, and to AS. dynian to resound, Icel. dynja to pour down like hail or rain; cf. Skr. dhuni roaring, a torrent, dhvan to sound. Cf. to ask payment.] Loud, confused, harsh noise; a loud, continuous, rattling or clanging sound; clamor; roar.
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Think you a little din can daunt mine ears? Shak.
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He knew the battle's din afar. Sir W. Scott.
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The dust and din and steam of town. Tennyson.
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Din, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinning.] [AS. dynian. See , n.] 1. To strike with confused or clanging sound; to stun with loud and continued noise; to harass with clamor; as, to din the ears with cries.
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2. To utter with a din; to repeat noisily; to ding.
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This hath been often dinned in my ears. Swift.
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Coloq. To din into , to fix in the mind of another by frequent and noisy repetitions. Sir W. Scott.
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Din, v. i. To sound with a din; a ding.
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The gay viol dinning in the dale. A. Seward.
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Dinaphthyl (?), n. [Pref. di- + naphthylene.] (Chem.) A colorless, crystalline hydrocarbon, C20H14, obtained from naphthylene, and consisting of a doubled naphthylene radical.
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Dinar (dīnẽr or d�när), n. [Ar. dīnār, from Gr. dhnarion, fr. L. denarius. See .] 1. A petty money of accounts of Persia; 100 dinars consituted a rial.
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2. An ancient gold coin of the East, issued by various Islamic countries.
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3. the unit of currency of Yugoslavia. One dinar equals 100 paras. Abbreviated Din.
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Dinarchy (?), n. See .
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Dine (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dined (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dining.] [F. dîner, OF. disner, LL. disnare, contr. fr. an assumed disjunare; dis- + an assumed junare (OF. juner) to fast, for L. jejunare, fr. jejunus fasting. See , and cf. , .] To eat the principal regular meal of the day; to take dinner.
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Now can I break my fast, dine, sup, and sleep. Shak.
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Coloq. To dine with Duke Humphrey , to go without dinner; -- a phrase common in Elizabethan literature, said to be from the practice of the poor gentry, who beguiled the dinner hour by a promenade near the tomb of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, in Old Saint Paul's.
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Dine, v. t. 1. To give a dinner to; to furnish with the chief meal; to feed; as, to dine a hundred men.
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A table massive enough to have dined Johnnie Armstrong and his merry men. Sir W. Scott.
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2. To dine upon; to have to eat. [Obs.] “What will ye dine.” Chaucer.
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Diner (?), n. One who dines.
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Diner-out (?), n. One who often takes his dinner away from home, or in company.
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A brilliant diner-out, though but a curate. Byron.
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Dinetical (?), a. [Gr. � to whirl round.] Revolving on an axis. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
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Ding (dĭng), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinged (?), Dang (Obs.), or Dung (Obs.); p. pr. & vb. n. Dinging.] [OE. dingen, dengen; akin to AS. dencgan to knock, Icel. dengja to beat, hammer, Sw. dänga, G. dengeln.] 1. To dash; to throw violently. [Obs.]
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To ding the book a coit's distance from him. Milton.
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2. To cause to sound or ring.
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Coloq. To ding (anything) in one's ears , to impress one by noisy repetition, as if by hammering.
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Ding, v. i. 1. To strike; to thump; to pound. [Obs.]
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Diken, or delven, or dingen upon sheaves. Piers Plowman.
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2. To sound, as a bell; to ring; to clang.
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The fretful tinkling of the convent bell evermore dinging among the mountain echoes. W. Irving.
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3. To talk with vehemence, importunity, or reiteration; to bluster. [Low]
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Ding, n. A thump or stroke, especially of a bell.
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ding-a-ling a stupid or foolish person; -- used in a deprecatory or contemptuous sense. [slang]
Syn. -- dingdong, doofus. [PJC]

dingdong, ding-dong (?), n. [See .] 1. The sound of, or as of, repeated strokes on a metallic body, as a bell; a repeated and monotonous sound.
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2. (Horol.) An attachment to a clock by which the quarter hours are struck upon bells of different tones.

3. a stupid or foolish person; -- used in a deprecatory or contemptuous sense. [slang]
Syn. -- ding-a-ling, doofus. [PJC]

Dingdong theory. (Philol.) The theory which maintains that the primitive elements of language are reflex expressions induced by sensory impressions; that is, as stated by Max Müller, the creative faculty gave to each general conception as it thrilled for the first time through the brain a phonetic expression; -- jocosely so called from the analogy of the sound of a bell induced by the stroke of the clapper.
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{ Dingey (?), Dingy, Dinghy }, n. [Bengalee dingi.] 1. a small boat propelled by oars or sails, used in the East Indies, in sheltered waters. [Written also dinghey.] Malcom.
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2. a small boat intended to be used as a tender or lifeboat, carried or towed by a ship. It may be propelled by oars, sail, or a motor.
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3. a small boat of shallow draft with cross thwarts for seats and rowlocks for oars with which it is propelled.
Syn. -- dory, rowboat.
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Dingily (?), adv. In a dingy manner.
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Dinginess, n. Quality of being dingy; a dusky hue.
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Dingle (?), n. [Of uncertain origin: cf. AS. ding prison; or perh. akin to dimble.] A narrow dale; a small dell; a small, secluded, and embowered valley.
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Dingle-dangle (?), adv. In a dangling manner.
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Dingo (?), n. (Zoöl.) A wild dog found in Australia, but supposed to have introduced at a very early period. It has a wolflike face, bushy tail, and a reddish brown color.
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Dingthrift (?), n. A spendthrift. [Obs.]
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Wilt thou, therefore, a drunkard be,
A dingthrift and a knave? Drant.
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Dingy (dĭnj�), a. [Compar. Dingier (?); superl. Dingiest.] [Prob. fr. dung. Cf. .] Soiled; sullied; of a dark or dusky color; dark brown; dirty. “Scraps of dingy paper.” Macaulay.
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Dinichthys (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � terrible + � fish.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct Devonian ganoid fishes. In some parts of Ohio remains of the Dinichthys are abundant, indicating animals twenty feet in length.
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Dining (?), n. & a. from , a.
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☞ Used either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dining hall or dining-hall, dining room, dining table, etc.
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dininghall, dining-hall, dining hall n. a large room at a college or university, used especially for dining.
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diningroom, dining room n. a room used for dining. In a residence, it usually contains a dining table and some furniture, such as a buffet or sideboard, for storing tableware and dining utensils.
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Dink (?), a. [Etymol. uncertain.] Trim; neat. [Scot.] Burns. -- Dinkly, adv.
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dink, v. t. To deck; -- often with out or up. [Scot.]
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dink, n. [ca. 1985, acronym from double income no kids.] either of a married couple who both are employed and have no children. The term is often used as the prototype of midde-class persons with higher-than-average disposable income.
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dink, n. (Tennis) a ball hit softly that falls to the ground just beyond the net.
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dink, n. an Asian person, especially a Vietnamese; -- used contemptuously, considered disparaging and offensive. [U.S. slang]
Syn. -- slant, slope. [PJC]

Dinka prop. n. a Nilotic language.
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dinky adj. 1. small and insignificant; shabby or unimpressive; as, he drove to work in a dinky old Volkswagen; we stayed in a dinky little hotel. [informal]
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2. pretty and neat; fashionable or well-dressed; as, what a dinky little hat. [British informal]
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Dinmont (?), n. (Zoöl.) A wether sheep between one and two years old. [Scot.]
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dinner (?), n. [F. dîner, fr. dîner to dine. See .] 1. The principal meal of the day, eaten in some countries about midday, but in others (especially in the U. S. and in large cities) at a later hour.
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2. An entertainment; a feast.
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A grand political dinner. Tennyson.
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☞ Dinner is much used, in an obvious sense, either adjectively or as the first part of a compound; as, dinner time, or dinner-time, dinner bell, dinner hour, etc.
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Dinnerless, a. Having no dinner; as, the naughty child was sent to bed dinnerless. Fuller.
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Dinnerly, a. Of or pertaining to dinner. [R.]
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The dinnerly officer. Copley.
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dinnertime n. the time when people eat dinner, usually the time for the evening meal.
Syn. -- suppertime.
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Dinoceras (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � terrible + �, �, horn.] (Paleon.) A genus of large extinct Eocene mammals from Wyoming; -- called also Uintatherium. See Illustration in Appendix.
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☞ They were herbivorous, and remarkable for three pairs of hornlike protuberances on the skull. The males were armed with a pair of powerful canine tusks.
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Dinocerata n. a small order of primitive ungulates of the Paleocene and Eocene.
Syn. -- order Dinocerata.
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Dinoflagellata n. and order of plankton, in some classifications it is considered a phylum of the kingdom Protista; in others it is included in the plant phylum Pyrrophyta. Its members usually have two flagella, one of which extends from its center.
Syn. -- order Dinoflagellata, Cilioflagellata, order Cilioflagellata.
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dinoflagellate n. a member of the Dinoflagellata, chiefly marine protozoa having two flagella. The dinoflagellates form a chief constituent of plankton.
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Dinornis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. � terrible + � bird.] (Paleon.) A genus of extinct, ostrichlike birds of gigantic size, which formerly inhabited New Zealand. See . [Written also Deinornis.]

{ Dinosaur (?), Dinosaurian (?), } n. [Gr. � terrible + � lizard.] (Paleon.) One of the Dinosauria. [Written also deinosaur, and deinosaurian.]
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Dinosauria (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. � terrible + � lizard.] (Paleon.) An order of extinct mesozoic reptiles, mostly of large size (whence the name). Notwithstanding their size, they present birdlike characters in the skeleton, esp. in the pelvis and hind limbs. Some walked on their three-toed hind feet, thus producing the large “bird tracks,” so-called, of mesozoic sandstones; others were five-toed and quadrupedal. See Illust. of , also Illustration of Dinosaur in Appendix.

{ Dinothere (?), Dinotherium (?), } n. [NL. dinotherium, fr. Gr. deinos terrible + qhrion beast.] (Paleon.) A large extinct proboscidean mammal from the miocene beds of Europe and Asia. It is remarkable for a pair of tusks directed downward from the decurved apex of the lower jaw.
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Dinoxide (?), n. (Chem.) Same as .
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Dinsome (?), a. Full of din. [Scot.] Burns.
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Dint (?), n. [OE. dint, dent, dunt, a blow, AS. dynt; akin to Icel. dyntr a dint, dynta to dint, and perh. to L. fendere (in composition). Cf. 1st , .] 1. A blow; a stroke. [Obs.] “Mortal dint.” Milton. “Like thunder's dint.” Fairfax.
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2. The mark left by a blow; an indentation or impression made by violence; a dent. Dryden.
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Every dint a sword had beaten in it [the shield]. Tennyson.
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3. Force; power; -- esp. in the phrase by dint of.
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Now you weep; and, I perceive, you feel
The dint of pity. Shak.
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It was by dint of passing strength
That he moved the massy stone at length. Sir W. Scott.
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Dint, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dinted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dinting.] To make a mark or cavity on or in, by a blow or by pressure; to dent. Donne. Tennyson.
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Dinumeration (?), n. [L. dinumeratio; di- = dis- + numerare to count, fr. numerus number.] Enumeration. [Obs.] Bullokar.
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Diocesan (?; 277), a. [LL. dioecesanus: cf. F. diocésain.] Of or pertaining to a diocese; as, diocesan missions.
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Diocesan, n. 1. A bishop, viewed in relation to his diocese; as, the diocesan of New York.
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2. pl. The clergy or the people of a diocese. Strype.
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Diocese (?), n.; pl. Dioceses (#). [OE. diocise, OF. diocise, F. diocése, L. dioecesis, fr. Gr. � housekeeping, administration, a province, a diocese, fr. � to keep house, manage; dia through + � to manage a household, � a house. See .] (Eccl.) The circuit or extent of a bishop's jurisdiction; the district in which a bishop exercises his ecclesiastical authority. [Frequently, but improperly, spelt diocess.]
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Diocesener (?), n. One who belongs to a diocese. [Obs.] Bacon.
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Diodon (?), n. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + 'odoys, 'odontos, a tooth: cf. F. diodon.] 1. (Zoöl.) A genus of spinose, plectognath fishes, having the teeth of each jaw united into a single beaklike plate. They are able to inflate the body by taking in air or water, and, hence, are called globefishes, swellfishes, etc. Called also porcupine fishes, and sea hedgehogs.
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2. (Zoöl.) A genus of whales.
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Diodont (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or pertaining to the genus Diodon. -- n. A fish of the genus Diodon, or an allied genus.
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