Down - Drabble

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Coloq. Down tree (Bot.), a tree of Central America (Ochroma Lagopus), the seeds of which are enveloped in vegetable wool.
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Down (doun), v. t. To cover, ornament, line, or stuff with down. [R.] Young.
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Down, n. [OE. dun, doun, AS. dūn; of Celtic origin; cf. Ir. dūn hill, fortified hill, Gael. dun heap, hillock, hill, W. din a fortified hill or mount; akin to E. town. See , and cf. , adv. & prep., .] 1. 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.
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Hills afford prospects, as they must needs acknowledge who have been on the downs of Sussex. Ray.
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She went by dale, and she went by down. Tennyson.
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2. 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. [Eng.]
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Seven thousand broad-tailed sheep grazed on his downs. Sandys.
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3. pl. A road for shipping in the English Channel or Straits of Dover, near Deal, employed as a naval rendezvous in time of war.
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On the 11th [June, 1771] we run up the channel . . . at noon we were abreast of Dover, and about three came to an anchor in the Downs, and went ashore at Deal. Cook (First Voyage).
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4. pl. [From the adverb.] A state of depression; low state; abasement. [Colloq.]
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It the downs of life too much outnumber the ups. M. Arnold.
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Down, adv. [For older adown, AS. adūn, adūne, prop., from or off the hill. See 3d , and cf. , and cf. .] 1. 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.
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2. Hence, in many derived uses, as: (a) 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.
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It will be rain to-night. Let it come down. Shak.
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I sit me down beside the hazel grove. Tennyson.
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And that drags down his life. Tennyson.
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There is not a more melancholy object in the learned world than a man who has written himself down. Addison.
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The French . . . shone down [i. e., outshone] the English. Shak.

(b) In a low or the lowest position, literally or figuratively; at the bottom of a descent; below the horizon; on the ground; in a condition of humility, dejection, misery, and the like; in a state of quiet.
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I was down and out of breath. Shak.
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The moon is down; I have not heard the clock. Shak.
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He that is down needs fear no fall. Bunyan.
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3. From a remoter or higher antiquity.
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Venerable men! you have come down to us from a former generation. D. Webster.
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4. 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. Arbuthnot.
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☞ Down is sometimes used elliptically, standing for go down, come down, tear down, take down, put down, haul down, pay down, and the like, especially in command or exclamation.

Down, therefore, and beg mercy of the duke. Shak.
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If he be hungry more than wanton, bread alone will down. Locke.

Down is also used intensively; as, to be loaded down; to fall down; to hang down; to drop down; to pay down.

The temple of Herè at Argos was burnt down. Jowett (Thucyd.).

Down, as well as up, is sometimes used in a conventional sense; as, down East.

Persons in London say down to Scotland, etc., and those in the provinces, up to London. Stormonth.
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Coloq. Down helm (Naut.), an order to the helmsman to put the helm to leeward. -- Coloq. Down on or Coloq. Down upon (joined with a verb indicating motion, as go, come, pounce), to attack, implying the idea of threatening power.
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Come down upon us with a mighty power. Shak.
-- Coloq. Down with , take down, throw down, put down; -- used in energetic command, often by people aroused in crowds, referring to people, laws, buildings, etc.; as, down with the king! “Down with the palace; fire it.” Dryden. -- Coloq. To be down on , to dislike and treat harshly. [Slang, U.S.] -- Coloq. To cry down . See under , v. t. -- Coloq. To cut down . See under , v. t. -- Coloq. Up and down , with rising and falling motion; to and fro; hither and thither; everywhere. “Let them wander up and down.” Ps. lix. 15.
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Down, prep. [From , adv.] 1. 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.
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2. Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound.
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Coloq. Down the country , toward the sea, or toward the part where rivers discharge their waters into the ocean. -- Coloq. Down the sound , in the direction of the ebbing tide; toward the sea.
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Down, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Downed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Downing.] To cause to go down; to make descend; to put down; to overthrow, as in wrestling; hence, to subdue; to bring down. [Archaic or Colloq.] “To down proud hearts.” Sir P. Sidney.
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I remember how you downed Beauclerk and Hamilton, the wits, once at our house. Madame D'Arblay.
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Down, v. i. To go down; to descend. Locke.
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Down, a. 1. Downcast; as, a down look. [R.]
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2. Downright; absolute; positive; as, a down denial. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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3. Downward; going down; sloping; as, a down stroke; a down grade; a down train on a railway.
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Coloq. Down draught , a downward draft, as in a flue, chimney, shaft of a mine, etc. -- Coloq. Down in the mouth , Coloq. Down at the mouth chopfallen; dejected.
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down-and-out adj. 1. impoverished; -- usually implying a state of dejection as well.
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2. physically weak.
Syn. -- down-and-out.
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down-and-out n. a person who is destitute; as, he tried to help the down-and-out.
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Downbear (?), v. t. To bear down; to depress.
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downbeat n. (Music) the first beat of a musical measure (as the conductor's arm moves downward).
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downbound adj. leading in a downward direction.
Syn. -- down(prenominal), downward(prenominal).
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down-bow n. (Music) a downward stroke from the heel to the tip of the bow, in bowing a stringed instrument. Contrasted with up-bow, when the bow is moved in the opposite direction.
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downcast (?), a. Cast downward; directed to the ground, from bashfulness, modesty, dejection, or guilt.
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'T is love, said she; and then my downcast eyes,
And guilty dumbness, witnessed my surprise. Dryden.

2. depressed; dispirited; dejected; -- of people.
Syn. -- down(predicate), downhearted, low, low-spirited.
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-- Downcastly, adv. -- Downcastness, n.
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Downcast, n. 1. Downcast or melancholy look.
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That downcast of thine eye. Beau. & Fl.
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2. (Mining) A ventilating shaft down which the air passes in circulating through a mine.
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Downcome (dounkŭm), n. 1. Sudden fall; downfall; overthrow. Milton.
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2. (Iron Manuf.) A pipe for leading combustible gases downward from the top of the blast furnace to the hot-blast stoves, boilers, etc., where they are burned.
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Downcomer (?), n. A pipe to conduct something downwards; specif.: (a) (Iron Manuf.) A pipe for leading the hot gases from the top of a blast furnace downward to the regenerators, boilers, etc. (b) (Steam Engin.) In some water-tube boilers, a tube larger in diameter than the water tubes to conduct the water from each top drum to a bottom drum, thus completing the circulation.
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downed adj. 1. knocked down.
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2. (Football) touched to the ground, thus ending the play; -- of a football.
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downer n. a drug that reduces excitability and calms a person. [Colloq.]
Syn. -- sedative, depressant.
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Downfall (dounf�l), n. 1. A sudden fall; a body of things falling.
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Those cataracts or downfalls aforesaid. Holland.
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Each downfall of a flood the mountains pour. Dryden.
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2. A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness; destruction; ruin; as, the senator's unrestrained sexual escapades led to his downfall.
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Dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so important a place. Motley.
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Downfallen (dounf�l'n), a. Fallen; ruined. Carew.
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Downfalling, a. Falling down.
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Downgyved (?), a. Hanging down like gyves or fetters. [Poetic & Rare] Shak.
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Downhaul (dounh�l), n. (Naut.) A rope to haul down, or to assist in hauling down, a sail; as, a staysail downhaul; a trysail downhaul.
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Downhearted (?), a. Dejected; low-spirited.
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Downhill (?), adv. Towards the bottom of a hill; as, water runs downhill.
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Downhill, a. Declivous; descending; sloping. “A downhill greensward.” Congrewe.
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Downhill, n. Declivity; descent; slope.
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On th' icy downhills of this slippery life. Du Bartas (Trans. ).
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Downiness (?), n. The quality or state of being downy.
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Downlooked (?), a. Having a downcast countenance; dejected; gloomy; sullen. [R.] Dryden.
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Downlying (?), n. The time of retiring to rest; time of repose. Cavendish.
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Coloq. At the downlying , at the travail in childbirth. [Scot.]
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down-market adj. designed for low-income consumers. Opposite of upmarket.
Syn. -- downmarket.
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Downpour (?), n. A pouring or streaming downwards; esp., a heavy or continuous shower.
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Downright (?), adv. 1. Straight down; perpendicularly.
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2. In plain terms; without ceremony.
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We shall chide downright, if I longer stay. Shak.
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3. Without delay; at once; completely. [Obs.]
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She fell downright into a fit. Arbuthnot.
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Downright, a. 1. Plain; direct; forthright; unceremonious; blunt; positive; as, he spoke in his downright way.
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A man of plain, downright character. Sir W. Scott.
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2. Open; artless; undisguised; absolute; unmixed; as, downright atheism.
Syn. -- honest-to-goodness. [ Webster]

The downright impossibilities charged upon it. South.
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Gloomy fancies which in her amounted to downright insanity. Prescott.

-- Downrightly, adv. -- Downrightness, n.
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Down-share (?), n. A breastplow used in paring off turf on downs. [Eng.] Knight.
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Downsitting (?), n. The act of sitting down; repose; a resting.
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Thou knowest my downsitting and my uprising. Ps. cxxxix. 2.
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downsizing n. (Economics) the reduction of expeditures and personnel in order to become financial stable; -- of businesses.
Syn. -- retrenchment, curtailment.
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downslope n. a downward slope.
Syn. -- descent, declivity, fall, decline.
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downstage n. (Theater) the front half of a stage. Opposite of upstage.
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downstage adj. (Theater) of or pertaining to the front half of a stage. Opposite of upstage.
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downstage adv. (Theater) at the front half of the stage; as, the dialog is clearer when conducted downstage. Opposite of upstage.
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downstair, downstairs adj. on or of the lower floors of a building, especially the ground floor; as, the downstairs (or downstair phone; the house has no downstairs bathroom. Opposite of upstairs.
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downstairs (?), adv. Down the stairs; to a lower floor; as, she headed downstairs as soon as she heard the horn.
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Downsteepy (?), a. Very steep. [Obs.] Florio.
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Downstream (?), adv. Down the stream; as, floating downstream.
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Downstroke (?), n. (Penmanship) A stroke made with a downward motion of the pen or pencil.
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Down syndrome, Down's syndrome (?), n. (Med.) A congenital disorder caused by an extra chromosome 21 in some or all cells. It causes a variable number and degree of abnormalities, including retarded growth, mental retardation, a short nose, prominent epicanthic folds on the eyelids, a protruding lower lip, and other physical features having varying degrees of deviation from the normal. Called also mongolism, trisomy-21 and trisomy 21 syndrome.
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Downthrow (?), n. (Geol.) The sudden drop or depression of the strata of rocks on one side of a fault. See , n.

down-to-earth adj. facing reality squarely; guided by practical experience and observation rather than theory. Opposite of idealistic, unrealistic, impractical, and pie-in-the-sky.
Syn. -- hardheaded, hard-nosed, practical, pragmatic.
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{ Downtrod (?), Downtrodden (?), } a. Trodden down; trampled down; abused by superior power. Shak.

{ Downward (?), Downwards (?), } adv. [AS. ad�nweard. See , adv., and .] 1. From a higher place to a lower; in a descending course; as, to tend, move, roll, look, or take root, downward or downwards. “Looking downwards.” Pope.
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Their heads they downward bent. Drayton.
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2. From a higher to a lower condition; toward misery, humility, disgrace, or ruin.
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And downward fell into a groveling swine. Milton.
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3. From a remote time; from an ancestor or predecessor; from one to another in a descending line.
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A ring the county wears,
That downward hath descended in his house,
From son to son, some four or five descents. Shak.
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Downward, a. 1. Moving or extending from a higher to a lower place; tending toward the earth or its center, or toward a lower level; declivous.
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With downward force
That drove the sand along he took his way. Dryden.
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2. Descending from a head, origin, or source; as, a downward line of descent.
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3. Tending to a lower condition or state; depressed; dejected; as, downward thoughts. Sir P. Sidney.
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Downweed (?), n. (Bot.) Cudweed, a species of Gnaphalium.
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Downweigh (-wā), v. t. To weigh or press down.
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A different sin downweighs them to the bottom. Longfellow.
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Down-wind, adv. With the wind.
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downwind adj. on the side or in the direction away from the direction from which the wind is blowing; in the direction toward which the wind is blowing; as, good hunters stay downwind of their prey. Opposite of upwind, and windward.
Syn. -- lee(prenominal), leeward.
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Downy (-�), a. 1. Covered with down, or with pubescence or soft hairs. “A downy feather.” Shak.
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Plants that . . . have downy or velvet rind upon their leaves. Bacon.
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2. Made of, or resembling, down. Hence, figuratively: Soft; placid; soothing; quiet. “A downy shower.” Keble. “Downy pillow.” Pope.
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Time steals on with downy feet. Young.
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3. Cunning; wary. [Slang, Eng.] Latham.
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Downy woodpecker (-�), n. (Zool.) A small black and white ladder-backed woodpecker (Picoides pubescens) of Central and Eastern U. S. and Canada. It strongly resembles the hairy woodpecker, but is smaller (6 1/2), compared with about 9-1/2 for the hairy. it is common in suburban backyards.
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Dowral (?), a. Of or relating to a dower. [R.]
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Dowress, n. A woman entitled to dower. Bouvier.
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Dowry (?), n.; pl. Dowries (#). [Contr. from dowery; cf. LL. dotarium. See .] 1. A gift; endowment. [Obs.] Spenser.
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2. The money, goods, or estate, which a woman brings to her husband in marriage; a bride's portion on her marriage. See Note under . Shak. Dryden.
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3. A gift or presents for the bride, on espousal. See .
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Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give . . .; but give me the damsel to wife. Gen. xxxiv. 12.
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Dowse (?), v. t. [Cf. 1st .] 1. To plunge, or duck into water; to immerse; to douse.
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2. [Cf. OD. doesen to strike, Norw. dusa to break.] To beat or thrash. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
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Dowse, v. i. To use the dipping or divining rod, as in search of water, ore, etc.
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Adams had the reputation of having dowsed successfully for more than a hundred wells. Eng. Cyc.
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Dowse, n. A blow on the face. [Low] Colman.
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Dowser (?), n. 1. A divining rod used in searching for water, ore, etc., a dowsing rod. [Colloq.]
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2. One who uses the dowser or divining rod. Eng. Cyc.
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Dowst (?), n. A dowse. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
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Dowve (douv�), n. A dove. [Obs.] Chaucer.
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Doxological (?), a. Pertaining to doxology; giving praise to God. Howell.
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Doxologize (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Doxologized; p. pr. & vb. n. Doxologizing.] To give glory to God, as in a doxology; to praise God with doxologies.
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Doxology (?), n.; pl. Doxologies (#). [LL. doxologia, Gr. �, fr. � praising, giving glory; � opinion, estimation, glory, praise (from � to think, imagine) + � to speak: cf. F. doxologie. See , and .] In Christian worship: A hymn expressing praise and honor to God; a form of praise to God designed to be sung or chanted by the choir or the congregation.
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David breaks forth into these triumphant praises and doxologies. South.
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Doxy (?), n.; pl. Doxies (#). [See a pet.] A loose wench; a disreputable sweetheart. Shak.
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Doyen (dwäyäN), n. [F. See .] Lit., a dean; the senior member of a body or group; as, the doyen of French physicians. “This doyen of newspapers.” A. R. Colquhoun.
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doyenne n. f. a female doyen.
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doyley n. 1. a small round piece of linen place under a dish or bowl; same as .
Syn. -- doily, doyly.
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doyly (?), n. See .
Syn. -- doily, doyley.
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Doze (dōz), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Dozed (dōzd); p. pr. & vb. n. Dozing.] [Prob. akin to daze, dizzy: cf. Icel. dūsa to doze, Dan. döse to make dull, heavy, or drowsy, dös dullness, drowsiness, dösig drowsy, AS. dwǣs dull, stupid, foolish. √71. Cf. .] To slumber; to sleep lightly; to be in a dull or stupefied condition, as if half asleep; to be drowsy.
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If he happened to doze a little, the jolly cobbler waked him. L'Estrange.
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Doze, v. t. 1. To pass or spend in drowsiness; as, to doze away one's time.
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2. To make dull; to stupefy. [Obs.]
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I was an hour . . . in casting up about twenty sums, being dozed with much work. Pepys.
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They left for a long time dozed and benumbed. South.
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Doze, n. A light sleep; a drowse. Tennyson.
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Dozen (dŭz'n), n.; pl. Dozen (before another noun), Dozens (dŭz'nz). [OE. doseine, dosein, OF. doseine, F. douzaine, fr. douze twelve, fr. L. duodecim; duo two + decem ten. See , , and cf. .] 1. A collection of twelve objects; a tale or set of twelve; with or without of before the substantive which follows. “Some six or seven dozen of Scots.” “A dozen of shirts to your back.” “A dozen sons.” “Half a dozen friends.” Shak.
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2. An indefinite small number. Milton.
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Coloq. A baker's dozen , thirteen; -- called also a long dozen.
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Dozenth (?), a. Twelfth. [R.]
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Dozer (?), n. One who dozes or drowses.
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Doziness (?), n. The state of being dozy; drowsiness; inclination to sleep.
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Dozy (?), a. Drowsy; inclined to doze; sleepy; sluggish; as, a dozy head. Dryden.
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Dozzled (?), a. [√71.] Stupid; heavy. [Obs. or Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.

DPhil n. 1. Doctor of Philosophy, a British doctorate.
Syn. -- Doctor of Philosophy.
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Dr. n. abbreviation for doctor, a title accorded to a person who holds a doctorate degree from an academic institution, such as a Ph.D. degree or M.D. degree. [abbrev.]
Syn. -- doctor.
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2. a licensed doctor of medicine.
Syn. -- doctor, doc, physician, MD, medico.
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Drab (drăb), n. [AS. drabbe dregs, lees; akin to D. drab, drabbe, dregs, G. treber; for sense 1, cf. also Gael. drabag a slattern, drabach slovenly. Cf. .] 1. A low, sluttish woman. King.
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2. A lewd wench; a strumpet. Shak.
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3. A wooden box, used in salt works for holding the salt when taken out of the boiling pans.
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Drab, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Drabbed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Drabbing.] To associate with strumpets; to wench. Beau. & Fl.
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Drab, n. [F. drap cloth: LL. drappus, trapus, perh. orig., a firm, solid stuff, cf. F. draper to drape, also to full cloth; prob. of German origin; cf. Icel. drepa to beat, strike, AS. drepan, G. treffen; perh. akin to E. drub. Cf. , .] 1. A kind of thick woolen cloth of a dun, or dull brownish yellow, or dull gray, color; -- called also drabcloth.
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2. A dull brownish yellow or dull gray color.
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Drab, a. Of a color between gray and brown. -- n. A drab color.
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Drabber (?), n. One who associates with drabs; a wencher. Massinger.
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Drabbet (?), n. A coarse linen fabric, or duck.
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Drabbish, a. Somewhat drab in color.
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Drabbish (?), a. Having the character of a drab or low wench. “The drabbish sorceress.” Drant.
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Drabble (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Drabbled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Drabbling (?).] [���.See , .] To draggle; to wet and befoul by draggling; as, to drabble a gown or cloak. Halliwell.
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