dibs - Dicyemid
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dibs (dĭbz), n. 1. A sweet preparation or treacle of grape juice, much used in the East. Johnston.
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2. A small amount of money.
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3. A right or claim, such as the right of use, or of first choice; as, I have dibs on the binoculars after Jim is finished..
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dibstone (dĭbstōn; 110), n. A pebble used in a child's game called dibstones. Locke.
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dibutyl (d�būtĭl), n. [Pref. di- + butyl.] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C8H18, of the alkane series, being one of several octanes, and consisting of two butyl radicals. Cf. .
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dicacious (dĭkāshŭs), a. [L. dicax, dicacis, fr. dicere to say.] Talkative; pert; saucy. [Obs.]
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dicacity (dĭkăsĭt�), n. [L. dicacitas: cf. F. dicacité. See .] Pertness; sauciness. [Obs.]
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dicalcic (d�kălsĭk), a. [Pref. di- + calcic.] (Chem.) Having two atoms or equivalents of calcium to the molecule.
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dicarbonic (dīkärbŏnĭk), a. [Pref. di- + carbonic.] (Chem.) Containing two carbon residues, or two carboxyl groups or radicals; as, oxalic acid is the simplest dicarbonic acid. In the latter sense, synonymous with dicarboxylic; as, succinic acid is a dicarboxylic acid.
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dicast (dīkȧst), n. [Gr. dikasths, fr. dikazein to judge, dikh right, judgment, justice.] A functionary in ancient Athens resembling closely to the modern juryman.
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dicastery (?), n. [Gr. dikasthrion, fr. dikasths juryman. See .] A court of justice; judgment hall. [R.] J. S. Mill.
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dice (dīs), n.; pl. of Die. Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See , n.
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Coloq. dice coal , a kind of coal easily splitting into cubical fragments. Brande & C.
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dice (dīs), v. i. [imp. & p. p. diced (dīst); p. pr. & vb. n. dicing.] To play games with dice.
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I . . . diced not above seven times a week.
Shak.
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dice (dīs), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Diced (dīst); p. pr. & vb. n. Dicing.] 1. (Cooking) To cut into small cubes; as, to slice and dice carrots.
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2. To ornament with squares, diamonds, or cubes.
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dicebox (dīsbŏks), n. A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. Thackeray.
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Dicentra (d�sĕntrȧ), Prop. n. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = dis- twice + kentron spur.] (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants, with racemes of two-spurred or heart-shaped flowers, including the Dutchman's breeches, and the more showy Bleeding heart (Dicentra spectabilis). [Corruptly written dielytra.]
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dicephalous (d�sĕfȧlŭs), a. [Gr. dikefalos; di- = dis- twice + kefalh head.] Having two heads on one body; double-headed.
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Dicer (?), n. A player at dice; a dice player; a gamester.
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As false as dicers' oaths.
Shak.
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Dich (?), v. i. To ditch. [Obs.]
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Dichastic (?), a. [Gr. � to part asunder, fr. � in two, asunder, fr. dis- twice.] (Biol.) Capable of subdividing spontaneously.
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Dichlamydeous (dīklȧmĭd�ŭs), a. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + chlamys, chlamydos, a cloak.] (Bot.) Having two coverings, a calyx and a corolla.
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Dichloride (?), n. [Pref. di- + chloride.] (Chem.) Same as .
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Dichogamous (?), a. (Bot.) Manifesting dichogamy.
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Dichogamy (?), n. [Gr. � in two, asunder + � marriage.] (Bot.) The condition of certain species of plants, in which the stamens and pistil do not mature simultaneously, so that these plants can never fertilize themselves.
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Dichotomist (?), n. One who dichotomizes. Bacon.
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Dichotomize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dichotomized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dichotomizing (?).] [See .] 1. To cut into two parts; to part into two divisions; to divide into pairs; to bisect. [R.]
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The apostolical benediction dichotomizes all good things into grace and peace.
Bp. Hall.
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2. (Astron.) To exhibit as a half disk. See , 3. “[The moon] was dichotomized.” Whewell.
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Dichotomize, v. i. To separate into two parts; to branch dichotomously; to become dichotomous.
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Dichotomous (?), a. [L. dichotomos, Gr. �; � in two, asunder + diatemnein to cut.] Regularly dividing by pairs from bottom to top; as, a dichotomous stem. -- Dichotomously, adv.
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Dichotomy (?), n. [Gr. �, fr. �: cf. F. dichotomie. See .] 1. A cutting in two; a division.
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A general breach or dichotomy with their church.
Sir T. Browne.
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2. Division or distribution of genera into two species; division into two subordinate parts.
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3. (Astron.) That phase of the moon in which it appears bisected, or shows only half its disk, as at the quadratures.
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4. (Biol.) Successive division and subdivision, as of a stem of a plant or a vein of the body, into two parts as it proceeds from its origin; successive bifurcation.
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5. The place where a stem or vein is forked.
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6. (Logic) Division into two; especially, the division of a class into two subclasses opposed to each other by contradiction, as the division of the term man into white and not white.
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Dichroic (?), a. [See .] Having the property of dichroism; as, a dichroic crystal.
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Dichroiscope (?), n. Same as .
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Dichroism (?), n. [Gr. � two-colored; di- = dis- twice + � color.] (Opt.) The property of presenting different colors by transmitted light, when viewed in two different directions, the colors being unlike in the direction of unlike or unequal axes.
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Dichroite (?), n. [See .] (Min.) Iolite; -- so called from its presenting two different colors when viewed in two different directions. See .
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Dichroitic (?), a. Dichroic.
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Dichromate (?), n. (Chem.) A salt of chromic acid containing two equivalents of the acid radical to one of the base; -- called also bichromate.
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Dichromatic (?), a. [Pref. di- + chromatic: cf. Gr. �.] 1. Having or exhibiting two colors.
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2. (Zoöl.) Having two color varieties, or two phases differing in color, independently of age or sex, as in certain birds and insects.
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Dichromatism (?), n. The state of being dichromatic.
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Dichromic (?), a. [Gr. � two-colored; di- = dis- twice + � color.] Furnishing or giving two colors; -- said of defective vision, in which all the compound colors are resolvable into two elements instead of three. Sir J. Herschel.
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Dichroous (?), a. Dichroic.
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Dichroscope (?), n. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + � color + � to view.] An instrument for examining the dichroism of crystals.
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Dichroscopic (?), a. Pertaining to the dichroscope, or to observations with it.
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Dicing (?), n. 1. An ornamenting in squares or cubes.
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2. Gambling with dice. J. R. Green.
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Dickcissel (?), n. (Zoöl.) The American black-throated bunting (Spiza Americana).
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Dickens (?), n. or interj. [Perh. a contr. of the dim. devilkins.] The devil. [A vulgar euphemism.]
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I can not tell what the dickens his name is.
Shak.
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Dicker (?), n. [Also daker, dakir; akin to Icel. dekr, Dan. deger, G. decher; all prob. from LL. dacra, dacrum, the number ten, akin to L. decuria a division consisting of ten, fr. decem ten. See .] 1. The number or quantity of ten, particularly ten hides or skins; a dakir; as, a dicker of gloves. [Obs.]
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A dicker of cowhides.
Heywood.
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2. A chaffering, barter, or exchange, of small wares; as, to make a dicker. [U.S.]
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For peddling dicker, not for honest sales.
Whittier.
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Dicker, v. i. & t. To negotiate a dicker; to barter. [U.S.] “Ready to dicker. and to swap.” Cooper.
{ Dickey, Dicky } (?), n. 1. 1. A false detachable shirt front or bosom. [Also spelled dickie.]
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2. A gentleman's shirt collar. [Local, U. S.]
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3. A hat; esp., in U. S., a stiff hat or derby; in Eng., a straw hat. [Slang]
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4. (a) A seat for the driver (In a carriage); -- called also dickey box or dickie seat. (b) A seat at the back for servants.
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5. One of various animals; specif.: (a) A donkey. (b) Any small bird; -- called also dickeybird or dickey bird. [Colloq.] (c) The hedge sparrow. [Dial. Eng.] (d) The haddock.
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dickeybird, dickey bird n. Any small bird; as, adults talking to children sometimes call small birds dickeybirds. [informal]
Syn. -- dickybird.
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dickie n. 1. A small 3rd seat in the back of an old-fashioned 2-seat car. [British English]
Syn. -- dickey, dicky, dickey-seat, dickie-seat, dicky-seat, dickey box.
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2. An article of clothing worn by men, consisting of a detachable insert (usually starched), worn suspended from the neck, which simulates the front of a shirt.
Syn. -- dickey, dicky, shirtfront.
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dickie-seat n. 1. A small 3rd seat in the back of an old-fashioned 2-seat car. [British English]
Syn. -- dickey, dickie, dicky, dickey-seat, dicky-seat, dickey box.
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Dicksonia prop. n. A genus of tree ferns of temperate Australasia having bipinnatifid or tripinnatifid fronds and usually marginal sori; in some classification systems it is placed in the family Cyatheaceae.
Syn. -- genus Dicksonia.
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Dicksoniaceae prop. n. 1. A family of plants comprising the tree ferns; it includes the genera Dicksonia; Cibotium; Culcita; and Thyrsopteris.
Syn. -- family Dicksoniaceae.
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dicky adj. Faulty. [British informal]
Syn. -- dickey.
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I've got this dicky heart
John le Carre
dicky n. See .
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dickybird n. same as .
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dicky-seat n. 1. same as .
Syn. -- dickey, dickie, dicky, dickey-seat, dickie-seat.
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Diclinic (?), a. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + � to incline.] (Crystallog.) Having two of the intersections between the three axes oblique. See .
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Diclinous (?), a. [Gr. � = � bed.] Having the stamens and pistils in separate flowers. Gray.
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Dicoccous (?), a. [Gr. di- = dis- twice + � grain, seed.] (Bot.) Composed of two coherent, one-seeded carpels; as, a dicoccous capsule.
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dicot (dīkŏt), n. [by shortening from dicotyledon.] (Bot.) same as .
Syn. -- dicotyledon, dicotyl.
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dicotyl (d�kŏt'l), n. [by shortening from dicotyledon.] (Bot.) same as .
Syn. -- dicotyledon, dicot.
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dicotyledon (d�kŏtĭlēdŭn), n. [Pref. di- + cotyledon.] (Bot.) A plant whose seeds divide into two seed lobes, or cotyledons, in germinating.
Syn. -- dicot, dicotyl.
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Dicotyledonae n. (Bot.) a class of plants comprising those seed plants that produce an embryo with two cotyledons and net-veined leaves; divided into six (not always well distinguished) subclasses (or superorders): Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae (considered primitive); Caryophyllidae (an early and distinctive offshoot); and three more or less advanced groups: Dilleniidae; Rosidae; Asteridae.
Syn. -- Dicotyledones, class Dicotyledones, class Dicotyledonae, Magnoliopsida, class Magnoliopsida.
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Dicotyledones n. (Bot.) same as .
Syn. -- Dicotyledones, class Dicotyledones, class Dicotyledonae, Magnoliopsida, class Magnoliopsida.
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dicotyledonous (d�kŏtĭlĕdŭnŭs), a. (Bot.) Having two cotyledons or seed lobes; as, a dicotyledonous plant.
{ Dicrotal (?), Dicrotous (?), } a. [Gr. � a double beating.] Dicrotic.
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Dicrotic (?), a. [Gr. � = � to knock, beat.] (Physiol.) (a) Of or pertaining to dicrotism; as, a dicrotic pulse. (b) Of or pertaining to the second expansion of the artery in the dicrotic pulse; as, the dicrotic wave.
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Dicrotism (?), n. (Physiol.) A condition in which there are two beats or waves of the arterial pulse to each beat of the heart.
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Dicta (?), n. pl. [L.] See .
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Dictagraph (dĭktȧgrȧf). Var. of .
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Dictamen (?), n. [LL., fr. dictare to dictate.] A dictation or dictate. [R.] Falkland.
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Dictamnus (dĭktămnŭs), n. [L. See .] (Bot.) A suffrutescent herb, Dictamnus Fraxinella (the only species), with strong perfume and showy flowers. The volatile oil of the leaves is highly inflammable.
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Dictaphone (?), n. [Dictate + -phone, as in telephone.] A form of phonographic recorder and reproducer adapted for use in dictation, as in business.
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Dictate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dictated; p. pr. & vb. n. Dictating.] [L. dictatus, p. p. of dictare, freq. of dicere to say. See , and cf. .] 1. To tell or utter so that another may write down; to inspire; to compose; as, to dictate a letter to an amanuensis.
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The mind which dictated the Iliad.
Wayland.
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Pages dictated by the Holy Spirit.
Macaulay.
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2. To say; to utter; to communicate authoritatively; to deliver (a command) to a subordinate; to declare with authority; to impose; as, to dictate the terms of a treaty; a general dictates orders to his troops.
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Whatsoever is dictated to us by God must be believed.
Watts.
Syn. -- To suggest; prescribe; enjoin; command; point out; urge; admonish.
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Dictate, v. i. 1. To speak as a superior; to command; to impose conditions (on).
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Who presumed to dictate to the sovereign.
Macaulay.
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2. To compose literary works; to tell what shall be written or said by another.
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Sylla could not skill of letters, and therefore knew not how to dictate.
Bacon.
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Dictate (?), n. [L. dictatum. See , v. t.] A statement delivered with authority; an order; a command; an authoritative rule, principle, or maxim; a prescription; as, listen to the dictates of your conscience; the dictates of the gospel.
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I credit what the Grecian dictates say.
Prior.
Syn. -- Command; injunction; direction suggestion; impulse; admonition.
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Dictation (?), n. [L. dictatio.] 1. The act of dictating; the act or practice of prescribing; also that which is dictated.
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It affords security against the dictation of laws.
Paley.
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2. The speaking to, or the giving orders to, in an overbearing manner; authoritative utterance; as, his habit, even with friends, was that of dictation.
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Dictator (?), n. [L.] 1. One who dictates; one who prescribes rules and maxims authoritatively for the direction of others. Locke.
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2. One invested with absolute authority; especially, a magistrate created in times of exigence and distress, and invested with unlimited power.
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Invested with the authority of a dictator, nay, of a pope, over our language.
Macaulay.
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Dictatorial (?), a. [Cf. F. dictatorial.] 1. Pertaining or suited to a dictator; absolute.
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Military powers quite dictatorial.
W. Irving.
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2. Characteristic of a dictator; imperious; dogmatical; overbearing; as, a dictatorial tone or manner.
-- Dictatorially, adv. -- Dictatorialness, n.
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Dictatorian (?), a. Dictatorial. [Obs.]
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Dictatorship (?), n. The office, or the term of office, of a dictator; hence, absolute power.
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Dictatory (?), a. [L. dictatorius.] Dogmatical; overbearing; dictatorial. Milton.
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Dictatress (?), n. A woman who dictates or commands.
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Earth's chief dictatress, ocean's mighty queen.
Byron.
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Dictatrix (?), n. [L.] A dictatress.
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Dictature (?; 135), n. [L. dictatura: cf. F. dictature.] Office of a dictator; dictatorship. [R.] Bacon.
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Diction (?), n. [L. dicto a saying, a word, fr. dicere, dictum, to say; akin to dicare to proclaim, and to E. teach, token: cf. F. diction. See , and cf. , , , , , .] Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; as, the diction of Chaucer's poems.
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His diction blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur.
De Quincey.
Syn. -- , , . Style relates both to language and thought; diction, to language only; phraseology, to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are phrased. The style of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his diction was varied and copious; his phraseology, at times, was careless and cumbersome. “Diction is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad diction; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of style.” Crabb.
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Dictionalrian (?), n. A lexicographer. [R.]
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Dictionary (?), n.; pl. Dictionaries (#). [Cf. F. dictionnaire. See .] 1. A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook.
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I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a dictionary.
Johnson.
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2. Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; as, a dictionary of medicine or of botany; a biographical dictionary.
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Dictograph (dĭkt�grȧf), n. [L. dictum a thing said + E. -graph.] A telephonic instrument for office or other similar use, having a sound-magnifying device enabling the ordinary mouthpiece to be dispensed with. Much use has been made of it for overhearing, or for recording, conversations for the purpose of obtaining evidence for use in litigation.
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☞ The makers of this instrument spell it dictograph.
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dictostylium n. 1. any slime mold of the genus Dictostylium.
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Dictum (?), n.; pl. L. Dicta (#), E. Dictums (#). [L., neuter of dictus, p. p. of dicere to say. See , and cf. .] 1. An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm.
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A class of critical dicta everywhere current.
M. Arnold.
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2. (Law) (a) A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it. (b) (French Law) The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it. Bouvier. (c) An arbitrament or award.
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Dictyogen (?), n. [Gr. � a net + -gen.] (Bot.) A plant with net-veined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos, belonging to the class Dictyogenæ, proposed by Lindley for the orders Dioscoreaceæ, Smilaceæ, Trilliaceæ, etc.
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Dicyanide (?), n. [Pref. di- + cyanogen.] (Chem.) A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or radicals; -- called also bicyanide.
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Dicyemata (?), n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. di- = dis- twice + � an embryo.] (Zoöl.) An order of worms parasitic in cephalopods. They are remarkable for the extreme simplicity of their structure. The embryo exists in two forms.
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Dicyemid (?), a. (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the Dicyemata. -- n. One of the Dicyemata.
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