Emily Dickinson Lexicon

diffident, adj. [L. diffīdent-em, mistrust.] (webplay: heart, our, own).

Distrustful; doubtful; timid; shy.

diffuse (-s), v. [L. diffūs-, pour out or away.] (webplay: all, will).

Spread; encompass; distribute; send in all directions.

dig (dug), v. [Fr. diguer, hollow out the ground.] (webplay: down, growing, make, means, mine, more, stone, up, well).

Excavate; shovel; form an opening in the earth; (see Genesis 21:30).

digger (-s), n. [see dig, v.] (webplay: earth, fall, man, spade, thing).

Worker; laborer; handyman that works with a shovel.

dignified, verbal adj. [OFr dignefier < med L. dignificāre, make worthy.] (webplay: all, dignity, rank).

Proper; marked with dignity; noble.

dignity, n. [OFr digneté < L. dignitāt-em, merit, worth.] (webplay: all, dignified, rank).

Honor; prestige; degree of excellence; elevation; (see Genesis 49:3).

dike (-s), n. [OE díc, ditch, trench]

Excavation; pit; cave; dug out; [fig.] mound of earth or stones that prevents the light of dawn from flooding the soul.

dilapidation (-'s), n. [alternate spelling; delapidation]

[L. dīlapidātiōn-em, squandering.] (webplay: active, decay, ruin). Deterioration; decomposition; breakdown.

dilemma, n. [L. < Gk. δίλημμα, double proposition.] (webplay: when).

Predicament; argument; difficult or doubtful choice.

diligence, n. [Fr.; see diligent, adv.] (webplay: before, every, industry, sure, thing, thou, without).

Industry; sustained effort; steady application of business; (see Proverbs 4:23).