Dictionary: DI-LU'VI-UM – DI-MIN'U-ENT

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DI-LU'VI-UM, n. [L.]

In geology, a deposit of superficial loam, sand, gravel, pebbles, &c., caused by the deluge, or ancient currents of water. – Buckland.

DIM, a. [Sax. dim; Dan. dum, dark, obscure, dim and dumb; dummer, to dim; dummes, to grow dim or dull, to stupefy, Eng. dumps, dumpish; Sw. dimba, fog, mist, a cloud; Ir. deimhe, darkness; Russ. tuman, fog; temnei, dark, obscure; Sans. tama, black, Finn. tumma. It seems to be allied to damp, vapor, Russ. dim or deim. See Damp. If dim and dumb are of the same family, the sense is close, thick.]

  1. Not seeing clearly; having the vision obscured and indistinct. When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim. – Gen. xxvii.
  2. Not clearly seen; obscure; imperfectly seen or discovered; as, a dim prospect.
  3. Somewhat dark; dusky; not luminous; as, a dim shade. – Spenser.
  4. Dull of apprehension; having obscure conceptions. The understanding is dim. – Rogers.
  5. Having its luster obscured; sullied; tarnished. How is the gold became dim! – Lam. iv.

DIM, v.t.

  1. To cloud; to impair the powers of vision; as, to dim the eyes.
  2. To obscure; as, to dim the sight; to dim the prospect.
  3. To render dull the powers of conception.
  4. To make less bright; to obscure. Each passion dimmed his face. – Milton.
  5. To render less bright; to tarnish or sully; as to dim gold.

DIM'BLE, n.

A bower; a cell or retreat. [Not in use.] – B. Jonson.

DIME, n. [Fr. contracted from dixieme or disme, Norm. dieme, tenth.]

A silver coin of the United States, of the value of ten cents; the tenth of a dollar.

DI-MEN'SION, n. [L. dimensio, from dimetior, to measure; di or dis and metior, to mete; Gr. μετρεω. See Mete and Measure.]

In geometry, the extent of a body, or length, breadth and thickness or depth. A line has one dimension or length; a superficies has two dimensions, length and breadth; and a solid has three dimensions, length, breadth and thickness or depth. The word is generally used in the plural, and denotes the whole space occupied by a body, or its capacity, size, measure; as, the dimensions of a room, or of a ship; the dimensions of a farm, of a kingdom, &c.

DI-MEN'SION-LESS, a.

Without any definite measure or extent; boundless. – Milton.

DI-MEN'SI-TY, n.

Extent; capacity. – Howell.

DI-MEN'SIVE, a.

That marks the boundaries or outlines. Who can draw the soul's dimensive lines? – Davies.

DIM'E-TER, a. [L.]

Having two poetical measures. – Tyrwhitt.

DIM'E-TER, n.

A verse of two measures.

DIM-I-CA'TION, n. [L. dimicatio.]

A battle or fight; contest.

DI-MID'I-ATE, v.t. [L. dimidio.]

To divide into two equal parts.

DI-MID'I-A-TED, pp. [L. dimidiatus; di and medius, middle.]

Divided into two equal parts; halved.

DI-MID'I-A-TING, ppr.

Dividing into two equal parts; halving.

DI-MID'I-A-TION, n.

The act of halving; division into two equal parts.

DI-MIN'ISH, v.i.

To lessen; to become or appear less or smaller. The apparent size of an object diminishes, as we recede from it.

DI-MIN'ISH, v.t. [L. diminuo; di and minuo, to lessen; minor, less; It. diminuire; Fr. diminuer; Sp. diminuir; Ir. min, fine; mion, small; W. main, meinw, small, slender; Russ. menshe, less; umenshayu, to diminish; Ar. مَنَّ manna, to cut off, to weaken, to diminish. Class Mn, No. 5.]

  1. To lessen; to make less or smaller, by any means; opposed to increase and augment; as, to diminish the size of a thing by contraction, or by cutting off a part; to diminish a number by subtraction; to diminish the revenue by limiting commerce, or reducing the customs; to diminish strength or safety; to diminish the heat of a room. It is particularly applied to bulk and quantity, as shorten is to length.
  2. To lessen; to impair; to degrade. I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over nations. – Ezek. xxix.
  3. In music, to take from a note by a sharp, flat or natural. To diminish from, to take away something. [Obs.] Neither shall you diminish aught from it. – Deut. iv.

DI-MIN'ISH-A-BLE, a.

Capable of being reduced in size or quality.

DI-MIN'ISH-ED, pp.

Lessened; made smaller; reduced in size; contracted; degraded.

DI-MIN'ISH-ER, n.

That which diminishes.

DI-MIN'ISH-ING, ppr.

Lessening; contracting; degrading.

DI-MIN'ISH-ING-LY, adv.

In a manner to lessen reputation. – Locke.

DIMINUENDO, or DIM, adv.

In music, directs to a decreasing volume of sound.

DI-MIN'U-ENT, a.

Lessening. [Little used.] – Sanderson.