Doniferous - Dorn
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Doniferous (d�nĭfẽrŭs), a. [L. donum gift + -ferous.] Bearing gifts. [R.]
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Donjon (dŭnjŭn), n. [See .] The chief tower, also called the keep; a massive tower in ancient castles, forming the strongest part of the fortifications. See Illust. of .
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Donkey (dŏṉk�), n.; pl. Donkeys (dŏṉkĭz). [Prob. dun, in allusion to the color of the animal + a dim. termination.] 1. An ass; or (less frequently) a mule.
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2. A stupid or obstinate fellow; an ass.
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Coloq. Donkey engine , a small auxiliary engine not used for propelling, but for pumping water into the boilers, raising heavy weights, and like purposes. -- Coloq. Donkey pump , a steam pump for feeding boilers, extinguishing fire, etc.; -- usually an auxiliary. -- Coloq. Donkey's eye (Bot.), the large round seed of the Mucuna pruriens, a tropical leguminous plant.
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donkey's tail n. a Mexican plant (Sedum morganianum) bearing small rose-colored flowers; called also burro's tail, horse's tail, and lamb's tail. RHUD
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donkey's years n. a very long time; ages. [informal]
[PJC]
donkeywork n. hard menial routine work.
Syn. -- drudgery, grind, scut work.
[WordNet 1.5]
Dongola (?), n. 1. A government of Upper Egypt.
[Webster Suppl.]
2. same as Dongola kid.
Coloq. Dongola kid , Coloq. D. leather , leather made by the Dongola process. -- Coloq. Dongola process , a process of tanning goatskin, and now also calfskin and sheepskin, with a combination of vegetable and mineral agents, so that it resembles kid. -- Coloq. Dongola race , a boat race in which the crews are composed of a number of pairs, usually of men and women.
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Donna (?), n. [It. donna, L. domina. See , .] A lady; madam; mistress; -- the title given a lady in Italy.
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Donnat (?), n. [Corrupted from do-naught.] See . [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Donnée (?), n. [F., fr. donner to give.] Lit., given; hence, in a literary work, as a drama or tale, that which is assumed as to characters, situation, etc., as a basis for the plot or story. W. E. Henley.
That favorite romance donnée of the heir kept out of his own.
Saintsbury.
[Webster Suppl.]
Donnian adj. of or pertaining to John Donne.
Syn. -- Donnean.
[WordNet 1.5]
donnish adj. like a university don; marked by a narrow focus on or display of learning, especially its trivial aspects.
Syn. -- academic, pedantic, bookish.
[WordNet 1.5]
donnism (?), n. [ , n., 2.] Self-importance; loftiness of carriage. [Cant, Eng. Universities]
Syn. -- donnishness.
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Donor (?), n. [F. donneur, OF. daneor, fr. donner. See , and cf. .] 1. One who gives or bestows; one who confers anything gratuitously; a benefactor. Inverse of recipient.
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2. (Law) One who grants an estate; in later use, one who confers a power; -- the opposite of donee. Kent.
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Touching, the parties unto deeds and charters, we are to consider as well the donors and granters as the donees or grantees.
Spelman.
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do-nothing (?), a. Doing nothing; disinclined to work or exertion; inactive; idle; lazy; -- of people; as, a do-nothing policy. [prenominal]
Syn. -- bone-idle, bone-lazy, faineant, indolent, lazy, otiose, shiftless, slothful, workshy, work-shy.
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do-nothing n. person who does no work.
Syn. -- idler, loafer, layabout, bum, ne'er-do-well, good-for-nothing.
[WordNet 1.5]
{ Do-nothingism (?), Do-nothingness (?), } n. Inactivity; habitual sloth; idleness. [Jocular] Carlyle. Miss Austen.
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Donship (?), n. The quality or rank of a don, gentleman, or knight. Hudibras.
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Donzel (?), n. [Cf. It. donzello, Sp. doncel, OF. danzel. See , , n.] A young squire, or knight's attendant; a page. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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Doo (d�), n. (Zoöl.) A dove. [Scot.]
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Doob grass (?). [Hind. d�b.] (Bot.) A perennial, creeping grass (Cynodon dactylon), highly prized, in Hindostan, as food for cattle, and acclimated in the United States. [Written also doub grass.]
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doodle (?), n. [Cf. .] A trifler; a simple fellow.
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doodlesack (?), n. [Cf. G. dudelsack.] The Scotch bagpipe. [Prov. Eng.]
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doofus (?), n. a person who is stupid or inept; -- used contemptuously. [Also spelled dufus.] [Slang]
Syn. -- dingdong, ding-a-ling.
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doohickey (?), n. Any object, usually a tool or other device, whose name is forgotten, or not known.
Syn. -- thingumbob, whatchamacallit, whachamacallit.
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doole (?), n. Sorrow; dole. [Obs.] Spenser.
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Dooly (?), n.; pl. Doolies (#). [Skr. dōla.] A kind of litter suspended from men's shoulders, for carrying persons or things; a palanquin. [Written also doolee and doolie.] [East Indies]
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Having provided doolies, or little bamboo chairs slung on four men's shoulders, in which I put my papers and boxes, we next morning commenced the ascent.
J. D. Hooker.
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Doom (d�m), n. [As. dōm; akin to OS. dōm, OHG. tuom, Dan. & Sw. dom, Icel. dōmr, Goth. dōms, Gr. qemis law; fr. the root of E. do, v. t. √65. See , v. t., and cf. , .] 1. Judgment; judicial sentence; penal decree; condemnation.
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The first dooms of London provide especially the recovery of cattle belonging to the citizens.
J. R. Green.
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Now against himself he sounds this doom.
Shak.
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2. That to which one is doomed or sentenced; destiny or fate, esp. unhappy destiny; penalty.
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Ere Hector meets his doom.
Pope.
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And homely household task shall be her doom.
Dryden.
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3. Ruin; death.
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This is the day of doom for Bassianus.
Shak.
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4. Discriminating opinion or judgment; discrimination; discernment; decision. [Obs.]
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And there he learned of things and haps to come,
To give foreknowledge true, and certain doom.
Fairfax.
Syn. -- Sentence; condemnation; decree; fate; destiny; lot; ruin; destruction.
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Doom, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Doomed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dooming.] 1. To judge; to estimate or determine as a judge. [Obs.] Milton.
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2. 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.
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Absolves the just, and dooms the guilty souls.
Dryden.
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3. To ordain as penalty; hence, to mulct or fine.
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Have I tongue to doom my brother's death?
Shak.
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4. To assess a tax upon, by estimate or at discretion. [New England] J. Pickering.
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5. To destine; to fix irrevocably the destiny or fate of; to appoint, as by decree or by fate.
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A man of genius . . . doomed to struggle with difficulties.
Macaulay.
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Doomage (?), n. A penalty or fine for neglect. [Local, New England]
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Doomful (?), a. Full of condemnation or destructive power. [R.] “That doomful deluge.” Drayton.
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Doom palm (?). [Ar. daum, dūm: cf. F. doume.] (Bot.) A species of palm tree (Hyphæne Thebaica), highly valued for the fibrous pulp of its fruit, which has the flavor of gingerbread, and is largely eaten in Egypt and Abyssinia. [Written also doum palm.]
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Doomsday (?), n. [AS. d�mes dāg. See , and .] 1. A day of sentence or condemnation; day of death. “My body's doomsday.” Shak.
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2. The day of the final judgment.
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I could not tell till doomsday.
Chaucer.
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Coloq. Doomsday Book . See .
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Doomsman, n. [Doom + man.] A judge; an umpire. [Obs.] Hampole.
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Doomster (?), n. Same as . [Scot.]
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Door (?), n. [OE. dore, dure, AS. duru; akin to OS. dura, dor, D. deur, OHG. turi, door, tor gate, G. thür, thor, Icel. dyrr, Dan. dör, Sw. dörr, Goth. daur, Lith. durys, Russ. dvere, Olr. dorus, L. fores, Gr. �; cf. Skr. dur, dvāra. √246. Cf. .] 1. An opening in the wall of a house or of an apartment, by which to go in and out; an entrance way.
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To the same end, men several paths may tread,
As many doors into one temple lead.
Denham.
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2. 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.
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At last he came unto an iron door
That fast was locked.
Spenser.
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3. Passage; means of approach or access.
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I am the door; by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved.
John x. 9.
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4. An entrance way, but taken in the sense of the house or apartment to which it leads.
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Martin's office is now the second door in the street.
Arbuthnot.
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Coloq. Blank door , Coloq. Blind door , etc. (Arch.) See under , , etc. -- Coloq. In doors , or Coloq. Within doors , within the house. -- Coloq. Next door to , near to; bordering on.
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A riot unpunished is but next door to a tumult.
L'Estrange.
-- Coloq. Out of doors , or Coloq. Without doors , and, [colloquially], Coloq. Out doors , out of the house; in open air; abroad; away; lost.
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His imaginary title of fatherhood is out of doors.
Locke.
-- Coloq. To lay (a fault, misfortune, etc.) at one's door , to charge one with a fault; to blame for. -- Coloq. To lie at one's door , to be imputable or chargeable to.
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If I have failed, the fault lies wholly at my door.
Dryden.
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☞ Door is used in an adjectival construction or as the first part of a compound (with or without the hyphen), as, door frame, doorbell or door bell, door knob or doorknob, door latch or doorlatch, door jamb, door handle, door mat, door panel.
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doorbell n. a bell or other sounding device, actuated by a push button at an outer door; the push button activating the bell; alos, the ringing of such a bell; as, I was in the shower and didn't hear the doorbell.
Syn. -- bell, buzzer.
[WordNet 1.5]
Doorcase (?), n. The surrounding frame into which a door shuts.
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Doorcheek (?), n. The jamb or sidepiece of a door. Ex. xii. 22 (Douay version).
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Doorga (?), n. [Skr. Durgā.] (Myth.) A Hindoo divinity, the consort of Siva, represented with ten arms. [Written also Durga.] Malcom.
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Dooring (?), n. The frame of a door. Milton.
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Doorkeeper (?), n. One who guards the entrance of a house or apartment; a porter; a janitor.
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doorknocker n. a device (usually metal and ornamental) attached by a hinge to a door, which may be swung by hand against the door to make a loud knocking sound.
Syn. -- knocker.
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Doorless, a. Without a door.
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doorlock n. a lock on an exterior door.
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doorman n. someone who guards the entrance to a building.
Syn. -- doorkeeper, door guard, hall porter, porter, gatekeeper.
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doormat n. 1. a mat placed outside and exterior door for wiping the shoes before entering. [wns=2]
Syn. -- welcome mat.
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2. (figurative) A person who is habitually abused, taken advantage of or humiliated; sometimes, one who is physically weak; as, they used him for a doormat. [wns=1]
Syn. -- weakling.
[WordNet 1.5]
Doornail (dōrnāl), n. The nail or knob on which in ancient doors the knocker struck; -- hence the old saying, “As dead as a doornail.”
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Doorplane (?), n. A plane on a door, giving the name, and sometimes the employment, of the occupant.
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Doorpost (?), n. The jamb or sidepiece of a doorway.
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Doorsill (?), n. The sill or threshold of a door.
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Doorstead (?), n. Entrance or place of a door. [Obs. or Local] Bp. Warburton.
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Doorstep (?), n. The stone or plank forming a step before an outer door.
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Doorstone (?), n. The stone forming a threshold.
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doorstop (?), n. (Carp.) The block or strip of wood or similar material which stops, at the right place, the shutting of a door; any object used to stop open doors from moving.
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doorstopper n. same as .
Syn. -- doorstop.
[WordNet 1.5]
door-to-door adj. 1. direct without intermediate changes of vehicle; -- of e.g. journeys or deliveries; as, the limousine offers direct door-to-door service.
[WordNet 1.5]
2. omitting no one; from the door of one house to that of the next; as, a door-to-door solicitation, canvass, or campaign.
Syn. -- house-to-house.
[WordNet 1.5]
Doorway (?), n. The passage of a door; entrance way into a house or a room.
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Dooryard (?), n. A yard in front of a house or around the door of a house.
{ Dop, Doop } (?), n. A little copper cup in which a diamond is held while being cut.
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Dop, v. i. [Cf. , .] To dip. [Obs.] Walton.
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Dop, n. A dip; a low courtesy. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
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Dopant (dōp�nt), n. a foreign substance added to a material to alter its properties; -- a process used. e.g., in making semiconductors from pure silicon in the manufacture of semiconductor chips and integrated circuits.
[PJC]
Dope (dōp), n. [D. doop a dipping, fr. doopen to dip. Cf. .] 1. Any thick liquid or pasty preparation, as of opium for medicinal purposes, of grease for a lubricant, etc.
[Webster Suppl.]
2. Any preparation, as of opium, used to stupefy or, in the case of a race horse, to stimulate. [Slang or Cant]
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3. An absorbent material; esp., in high explosives, the sawdust, infusorial earth, mica, etc., mixed with nitroglycerin to make a damp powder (dynamite, etc.) less dangerous to transport, and ordinarily explosive only by suitable fulminating caps.
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4. Information concerning the previous performances of race horses, or other facts concerning them which may be of assistance in judging of their chances of winning future races; similar information concerning other sports; by extension, any information not generally known, especially when coming from an inside source; as, the inside dope. [Sporting Slang]
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5. an ignorant or stupid person. [Colloq.]
[PJC]
Coloq. get the dope on learn the true story; get the inside information.
Dope, v. t. 1. To treat or affect with dope; as, to dope nitroglycerin; specif.: (a) To give stupefying drugs to; to drug. [Slang] (b) To administer a stimulant to (a horse) to increase his speed. It is a serious offense against the laws of racing. [Race-track Slang]
[Webster Suppl.]
2. To judge or guess; to predict the result of, as by the aid of dope. [Slang]
[Webster Suppl.]
3. to impregnate with a dopant.
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Dope-book, n. A chart of previous performances, etc., of race horses; a racing form. [Race-track Slang]
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Dopey, Dopy (?), a. 1. stupid; as, a dopy kid. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- cloddish, doltish.
[PJC]
2. [affected by .] dulled or stupefied by alcohol or narcotics; sluggish or dull as though under the influence of a narcotic. [Slang]
[Webster Suppl. + WordNet 1.5 +PJC]
3. revealing stupidity; as, a dopey answer. [wns=2]
Syn. -- anserine, dopey, fool(prenominal), foolish, goosey, goosy, gooselike.
[WordNet 1.5]
Doppelgänger (?), n. [G.] A spiritual or ghostly double or counterpart; esp., an apparitional double of a living person; a cowalker.
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Dopper (?), n. [D. dooper.] [Written also doper.] An Anabaptist or Baptist. [Contemptuous] B. Jonson.
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Dopplerite (?), n. [Named after the physicist and mathematician Christian Doppler.] (Min.) A brownish black native hydrocarbon occurring in elastic or jellylike masses.
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Doquet (?), n. A warrant. See .
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Dor (?), n. [Cf. AS. dora drone, locust, D. tor beetle, L. taurus a kind of beetle. Cf. .] (Zoöl.) A large European scaraboid beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius), which makes a droning noise while flying. The name is also applied to allied American species, as the June bug. Called also dorr, dorbeetle, or dorrbeetle, dorbug, dorrfly, and buzzard clock.
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Dor, n. [Cf. a beetle, and , .] A trick, joke, or deception. Beau. & Fl.
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Coloq. To give one the dor , to make a fool of him. [Archaic] P. Fletcher.
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Dor, v. t. To make a fool of; to deceive. [Obs.] [Written also dorr.] B. Jonson.
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Dorado (?), n. [Sp. dorado gilt, fr. dorar to gild, fr. L. deaurare. See 1st , and cf. .] 1. (Astron.) A southern constellation, within which is the south pole of the ecliptic; -- called also sometimes Xiphias, or the Swordfish.
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2. (Zoöl.) A large, oceanic fish of the genus Coryphæna.
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Dorbeetle (?), n. (Zoöl.) See 1st .
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Doree (?), n. [See .] (Zoöl.) A European marine fish (Zeus faber), of a yellow color. See Illust. of .
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☞ The popular name in England is John Doree, or Dory, well known to be a corruption of F. jaune-dorée, i. e., golden-yellow. See 1st .
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Doretree (?), n. A doorpost. [Obs.] “As dead as a doretree.” Piers Plowman.
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Dorhawk (?), n. (Zoöl.) The European goatsucker; -- so called because it eats the dor beetle. See . [Written also dorrhawk.] Booth.
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Dorian (?), a. 1. Of or pertaining to the ancient Greeks of Doris; Doric; as, a Dorian fashion.
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2. (Mus.) Same as , 3. “Dorian mood.” Milton.
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Coloq. Dorian mode (Mus.), the first of the authentic church modes or tones, from D to D, resembling our D minor scale, but with the B natural. Grove.
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Dorian, n. A native or inhabitant of Doris in Greece.
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Doric (?), a. [L. Doricus, Gr. �, fr. � the Dorians.] 1. Pertaining to Doris, in ancient Greece, or to the Dorians; as, the Doric dialect.
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2. (Arch.) Belonging to, or resembling, the oldest and simplest of the three orders of architecture used by the Greeks, but ranked as second of the five orders adopted by the Romans. See , , .
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☞ This order is distinguished, according to the treatment of details, as Grecian Doric, or Roman Doric.
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3. (Mus.) Of or relating to one of the ancient Greek musical modes or keys. Its character was adapted both to religions occasions and to war.
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Doric, n. The Doric dialect.
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Doricism (?), n. A Doric phrase or idiom.
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Doris (?), n. [L. Doris, the daughter of Oceanus, and wife of Nereus, Gr. �.] (Zoöl.) A genus of nudibranchiate mollusks having a wreath of branchiæ on the back.
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Dorism (?), n. [Gr. �.] A Doric phrase or idiom.
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dork (dôrk), n. 1. a person who is stupid, socially inept, or ridiculous; -- always used disparagingly. [slang.]
Syn. -- nerd; jerk.
[PJC]
2. the penis. [vulgar slang]
[PJC]
Dorking fowl (dôrkĭng foul). [From the town of Dorking in England.] (Zoöl.) One of a breed of large-bodied domestic fowls, having five toes, or the hind toe double. There are several strains, as the white, gray, and silver-gray. They are highly esteemed for the table.
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dorky (dôrkē), n. stupid, socially inept, unfashionable, or ridiculous; -- always used disparagingly. [slang.]
Syn. -- nerd; jerk.
[PJC]
Dorm (?), n. a dormitory. [College slang.]
[PJC]
Dormancy (?), n. [From .] The state of being dormant; quiescence; abeyance.
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Dormancy (?), n. [From .] The state of being dormant; quiescence; abeyance.
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It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people.
Burke.
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2. (Her.) In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant; -- distinguished from couchant.
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Coloq. Dormant partner (Com.), a partner who takes no share in the active business of a company or partnership, but is entitled to a share of the profits, and subject to a share in losses; -- called also sleeping partner or silent partner. -- Coloq. Dormant window (Arch.), a dormer window. See . -- Coloq. Table dormant , a stationary table. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Dormant (?), n. [See , a.] (Arch.) A large beam in the roof of a house upon which portions of the other timbers rest or “ sleep.” Arch. Pub. Soc. -- Called also dormant tree, dorman tree, dormond, and dormer. Halliwell.
Dormer (?), or Dormer window (�), n. [Literally, the window of a sleeping apartment. F. dormir to sleep. See , a. & n.] (Arch.) A window pierced in a roof, and so set as to be vertical while the roof slopes away from it. Also, the gablet, or houselike structure, in which it is contained.
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Dormitive (?), a. [Cf. F. dormitif, fr. dormire to sleep.] Causing sleep; as, the dormitive properties of opium. Clarke. -- n. (Med.) A medicine to promote sleep; a soporific; an opiate.
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Dormitory (?), n.; pl. Dormitories (#). [L. dormitorium, fr. dormitorius of or for sleeping, fr. dormire to sleep. See .] 1. A sleeping room, or a building containing a series of sleeping rooms; a sleeping apartment capable of containing many beds; esp., one connected with a college or boarding school. Thackeray.
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2. A burial place. [Obs.] Ayliffe.
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My sister was interred in a very honorable manner in our dormitory, joining to the parish church.
Evelyn.
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Dormouse (?), n.; pl. Dormice (#). [Perh. fr. F. dormir to sleep (Prov. E. dorm to doze) + E. mouse; or perh. changed fr. F. dormeuse, fem., a sleeper, though not found in the sense of a dormouse.] (Zoöl.) A small European rodent of the genus Myoxus, of several species. They live in trees and feed on nuts, acorns, etc.; -- so called because they are usually torpid in winter.
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Dormy (?), a. [Origin uncertain.] (Golf) Up, or ahead, as many holes as remain to be played; -- said of a player or side.
☞ A player who is dormy can not be beaten, and at the worst must halve the match. Encyc. of Sport.
[Webster Suppl.]
Dorn (?), n. [Cf. G. dorn thorn, D. doorn, and G. dornfisch stickleback.] (Zoöl.) A British ray; the thornback.
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