Dictionary: DIG'NI-TA-RY – DIK'ING

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DIG'NI-TA-RY, n.

An ecclesiastic who holds a dignity, or a benefice which gives him some pre-eminence over mere priests and canons, as a bishop, dean, archdeacon, prebendary, &c. – Encyc. Swift.

DIG'NI-TY, n. [L. dignitas, from dignus, worthy; Sp. digno; It. degno; Fr. digne; Arm. dign or din. Qu. its relation to Sax. dugan, to be good, to avail, to be worth, to be profitable. It is probable that g and n are not both radical, but it is uncertain which.]

  1. True honor; nobleness or elevation of mind, consisting in a high sense of propriety, truth and justice, with an abhorrence of mean and sinful actions; opposed to meanness. In this sense, we speak of the dignity of mind, and dignity of sentiments. This dignity is based on moral rectitude; all vice is incompatible with true dignity of mind. The man who deliberately injures another, whether male or female, has no true dignity of soul.
  2. Elevation; honorable place or rank of elevation; degree of excellence, either in estimation, or in the order of nature. Man is superior in dignity to brutes.
  3. Elevation of aspect; grandeur of mien; as, a man of native dignity.
  4. Elevation of deportment; as, dignity of manners or behavior.
  5. An elevated office, civil or ecclesiastical, giving a high rank in society; advancement; preferment, or the rank attached to it. We say, a man enjoys his dignity with moderation, or without haughtiness. Among ecclesiastics, dignity is office or preferment joined with power or jurisdiction. – Bailey. Johnson.
  6. The rank or title of a nobleman. – Encyc.
  7. In oratory, one of the three parts of elocution, consisting in the right use of tropes and figures. – Encyc.
  8. In astrology, an advantage which a planet has on account of its being in some particular place of the zodiac, or in a particular station in respect to other planets. – Bailey.
  9. A general maxim, or principle. [Not used.] – Brown.

DIG-NO'TION, n. [L. dignosco.]

Distinguishing mark; distinction. [Not used.] – Brown.

DIG'O-NOUS, a. [Gr. δις and γωνια, an angle.]

In botany, having two angles, as a stem. – Lee.

DI'GRAPH, n. [Gr. δις and γραφω, to write.]

A union of two vowels, of which one only is pronounced, as in head, breath. – Sheridan.

DI-GRESS', v.i. [L. digressus, digredior; di or dis and gradior, to step. See Grade.]

  1. Literally, to step or go from the way or road: hence, to depart or wander from the main subject, design or tenor of a discourse, argument or narration; used only of speaking or writing. In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition, as often as a man varies the signification of any term. – Locke.
  2. To go out of the right way or common track; to deviate; in a literal sense. [Not now in use.] – Shak.

DI-GRESS'ING, ppr.

Departing from the main subject.

DI-GRES'SION, n. [L. digressio.]

  1. The act of digressing; a departure from the main subject under consideration; an excursion of speech or writing.
  2. The part or passage of a discourse, argument or narration, which deviates from the main subject, tenor or design, but which may have some relation to it, or be of use to it.
  3. Deviation from a regular course; as, the digression of the sun is not equal. [Little used.] – Brown.

DI-GRES'SION-AL, a.

Pertaining to or consisting in digression; departing from the main purpose or subject. – Warton. Adams, Lect.

DI-GRESS'IVE, a.

Departing from the main subject; partaking of the nature of digression. – J. Q. Adams.

DI-GRESS'IVE-LY, adv.

By way of digression.

DI'GYN, n. [Gr. δις, two, and γυνη, a female.]

In botany, a plant having two pistils.

DI-GYN'I-AN, a.

Having two pistils.

DI-HE'DRAL, a. [Gr. δις, supra, and ἑδρα, a seat or face.]

Having two sides, as a figure.

DI-HE'DRON, n. [supra.]

A figure with two sides or surfaces.

DI-HEX-A-HE'DRAL, a. [di and hexahedral.]

In crystalography, having the form of a hexahedral prism with trihedral summits. – Cleaveland.

DI-JU'DI-CATE, v.t. [L. dijudico.]

To judge or determine by censure. – Hales.

DI-JU'DI-CA-TED, pp.

Judged or determined by censure.

DI-JU'DI-CA-TING, ppr.

Judging or determining by censure.

DI-JU'DI-CATION, n.

Judicial distinction.

DIKE, n. [Sax. dic; Sw. dike; Dan. dige; D. dyk; G. deich; Ir. diog; Scot. dike, dyk; Fr. digue; Sp. dique; from digging. See Dig. It is radically the same word as ditch, and this is its primary sense; but by an easy transition, it came to signify also the bank formed by digging and throwing up earth. Intrenchment is sometimes used both for a ditch and a rampart.]

  1. A ditch; an excavation made in the earth by digging, of greater length than breadth, intended as a reservoir of water, a drain, or for other purpose. – Dryden. Pope.
  2. A mound of earth, of stones, or of other materials, intended to prevent low lands from being inundated by the sea or river. The low countries of Holland are thus defended by dikes.
  3. A vein of basalt, greenstone or other stony substance; or an intrusion of melted matter into rents or fissures of rocks. – Cleaveland. Mantell.

DIKE, v.i.

To dig. [Not in use.]

DIKE, v.t.

To surround with a dike; to secure by a bank.

DIK'ED, pp.

Surrounded with a dike.

DIK'ING, n.

The act of diking, or surrounding with dikes.