Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DI'A-STEM, n. [Gr. διαςημα.]

In music, a simple interval.

DI-AS'TO-LE, or DI-AS'TO-LY, n. [Gr. διαςολη, διαςελλω; δια and ςελλω, to set, or send from.]

1. Among physicians, a dilatation of the heart, auricles and arteries; opposed to systole or contraction. – Encyc.
2. In grammar, the extension of a syllable; or a figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.

DI'A-STYLE, n. [Gr. δια and ςυλος.]

An edifice in which three diameters of the columns are allowed for intercolumniations. – Harris.

DI-A-TES'SA-RON, n. [Gr. δια and τεσσαρα, four.]

Among musicians, a concord or harmonic interval, composed of a greater tone, a lesser tone, and one greater semitone. Its proportion is as 4 to 3, and it is called a perfect fourth. – Harris.

DI-A-THERM'AL, a.

Possessing free permeability to heat.

DI-A-THERM'A-NOUS, a. [Gr. δια, through, and θερμαινω, to heat.]

Possessing free permeability to heat.

DI-ATH'E-SIS, n. [Gr.]

Particular disposition or habit of body, good or bad. – Coxe.

DI-AT'OM-OUS, a. [Gr. δια, through, and τεμνω, to cleave.]

In mineralogy, having crystals with one distinct diagonal cleavage. – Mohs.

DI-A-TON'IC, a. [Gr. δια; by or through, and τονος, sound.]

Ascending or descending, as in sound, or from sound to sound. This epithet is given to a scale or gammut, to intervals of a certain kind, or to music composed of these intervals; as, a diatonic series; a diatonic interval; diatonic melody or harmony. It is applied to ordinary music, containing only the two greater and lesser tones, and the greater semitone. Encyc. Harris.

DI'A-TRIBE, n. [Gr. διατριβη.]

A continued discourse or disputation. – Bailey.

DI'A-TRIB-IST, n.

One who prolongs his discourse, or discussion. – Hammond.

DI-A-ZEU'TIC, a. [Gr. διαζευγνυμι, to disjoin.]

A diazeutic tone in ancient Greek music, disjoined two fourths, one on each side of it, and which, being joined to either, made a fifth. This is, in our music, from A to B. – Harris.

DIB'BLE, n. [probably from the root of top, tip, a point, and denoting a little sharp point; or allied to dip, to thrust in.]

A pointed instrument, used in gardening and agriculture, to make holes for planting seeds, &c.

DIB'BLE, v.i.

To dibble or dip; a term in angling.

DIB'BLE, v.t.

To plant with a dibble; or to make holes for planting seeds, &c.

DIB'BLER, n.

One who makes holes in the ground to receive seeds.

DIB'STONE, n.

A little stone which children throw at another stone. – Locke.

DI-CAC'I-TY, n. [L. dicacitas.]

Pertness. [Little used.] – Graves.

DI'CAST, n. [Gr. δικαςης, from δικαζω, to judge, from δικη, justice.]

In ancient Greece, an officer answering nearly to our juryman. – Mitford.

DICE, n. [plur. of Die.]

also, a game with dice.

DICE, v.i.

To play with dice. – Shak.

DICE'-BOX, n.

A box from which dice are thrown in gaming. – Addison.

DICE-MAK-ER, n.

A maker of dice.

DI-CEPH'A-LOUS, a. [Gr. δις, and κεφαλη, head.]

Having two heads on one body. – Lindley.

DIC'ER, n.

A player at dice.