Webster's Unabridged Dictionary - Letter D - Page 49
Die (v. i.) (Arch.) To disappear gradually in another surface, as where moldings are lost in a sloped or curved face.
Die (v. i.) To become vapid, flat, or spiritless, as liquor.
To die in the last ditch, To fight till death; to die rather than surrender.
"There is one certain way," replied the Prince [William of Orange] " by which I can be sure never to see my country's ruin, -- I will die in the last ditch." -- Hume (Hist. of Eng. ).
To die out, To cease gradually; as, the prejudice has died out.
Syn: To expire; decease; perish; depart; vanish.
Dice (n. pl. ) of Die
Dies (n. pl. ) of Die
Dice (n.; pl. of Die.) Small cubes used in gaming or in determining by chance; also, the game played with dice. See Die, n.
Dice coal, A kind of coal easily splitting into cubical fragments. -- Brande & C.
Die (n.) A small cube, marked on its faces with spots from one to six, and used in playing games by being shaken in a box and thrown from it. See Dice.
Die (n.) Any small cubical or square body.
Words . . . pasted upon little flat tablets or dies. -- Watts.
Die (n.) That which is, or might be, determined, by a throw of the die; hazard; chance.
Such is the die of war. -- Spenser.
Die (n.) (Arch.) That part of a pedestal included between base and cornice; the dado.
Die (n.) (Mach.) A metal or plate (often one of a pair) so cut or shaped as to give a certain desired form to, or impress any desired device on, an object or surface, by pressure or by a blow; used in forging metals, coining, striking up sheet metal, etc.
Die (n.) (Mach.) A perforated block, commonly of hardened steel used in connection with a punch, for punching holes, as through plates, or blanks from plates, or for forming cups or capsules, as from sheet metal, by drawing.
Die (n.) (Mach.) A hollow internally threaded screw-cutting tool, made in one piece or composed of several parts, for forming screw threads on bolts, etc.; one of the separate parts which make up such a tool.
Cutting die (Mech.), A thin, deep steel frame, sharpened to a cutting edge, for cutting out articles from leather, cloth, paper, etc.
The die is cast, The hazard must be run; the step is taken, and it is too late to draw back; the last chance is taken. Diecian
Die (n.) A small cube with 1 to 6 spots on the six faces; used in gambling to generate random numbers [syn: die, dice].
Die (n.) A device used for shaping metal.
Die (n.) A cutting tool that is fitted into a diestock and used for cutting male (external) screw threads on screws or bolts or pipes or rods.
Die (v.) Pass from physical life and lose all bodily attributes and functions necessary to sustain life; "She died from cancer"; "The children perished in the fire"; "The patient went peacefully"; "The old guy kicked the bucket at the age of 102" [syn: die, decease, perish, go, exit, pass away, expire, pass, kick the bucket, cash in one's chips, buy the farm, conk, give-up the ghost, drop dead, pop off, choke, croak, snuff it] [ant: be born].
Die (v.) Suffer or face the pain of death; "Martyrs may die every day for their faith".
Die (v.) Be brought to or as if to the point of death by an intense emotion such as embarrassment, amusement, or shame; "I was dying with embarrassment when my little lie was discovered"; "We almost died laughing during the show".
Die (v.) Stop operating or functioning; "The engine finally went"; "The car died on the road"; "The bus we travelled in broke down on the way to town"; "The coffee maker broke"; "The engine failed on the way to town"; "her eyesight went after the accident" [syn: fail, go bad, give way, die, give out, conk out, go, break, break down].
Die (v.) Feel indifferent towards; "She died to worldly things and eventually entered a monastery".
Die (v.) Languish as with love or desire; "She dying for a cigarette"; "I was dying to leave".
Die (v.) Cut or shape with a die; "Die out leather for belts" [syn: die, die out].
Die (v.) To be on base at the end of an inning, of a player.
Die (v.) Lose sparkle or bouquet; "wine and beer can pall" [syn: die, pall, become flat].
Die (v.) Disappear or come to an end; "Their anger died"; "My secret will die with me!"
Die (v.) Suffer spiritual death; be damned (in the religious sense); "Whosoever..believes in me shall never die".
Diecian (a.) Alt. of Diecious
Diecious (a.) (Bot.) See Dioecian, and Dioecious.
Diedral (a.) The same as Dihedral.
Diegesis (n.) A narrative or history; a recital or relation.
Dielectric (n.) (Elec.) Any substance or medium that transmits the electric force by a process different from conduction, as in the phenomena of induction; a nonconductor. separating a body electrified by induction, from the electrifying body.
Dielectric (n.) A material such as glass or porcelain with negligible electrical or thermal conductivity [syn: insulator, dielectric, nonconductor] [ant: conductor].
Dielytra (n.) (Bot.) See Dicentra.
Compare: Dicentra
Dicentra (Prop. n.) (Bot.) A genus of herbaceous plants, with racemes of two-spurred or heart-shaped flowers, including the Dutchman's breeches, Bleeding+heart+ ({Dicentra+spectabilis"> and the more showy Bleeding heart ({Dicentra spectabilis). [Corruptly written dielytra.].
Diencephalon (n.) (Anat.) The interbrain or thalamencephalon; -- sometimes abbreviated to dien. See Thalamencephalon.
Diencephalon (n.) The posterior division of the forebrain; connects the cerebral hemispheres with the mesencephalon [syn: diencephalon, interbrain, betweenbrain, thalmencephalon].
Dieresis (n.) [NL.] Same as Diaeresis.
Diaeresis, Dieresis, (n.; pl. Di[ae]reses or Diereses.) (Gram.) The separation or resolution of one syllable into two; -- the opposite of syn[ae]resis.
Diaeresis, Dieresis, (n.; pl. Di[ae]reses or Diereses.) A mark consisting of two dots [[umlaut]], placed over the second of two adjacent vowels, to denote that they are to be pronounced as distinct letters; as, co["o]perate, a["e]rial.
Dieresis (n.) A diacritical mark (two dots) placed over a vowel in German to indicate a change in sound [syn: umlaut, dieresis, diaeresis].
Diesinker (n.) An engraver of dies for stamping coins, medals, etc.
Diesinker (n.) Someone who makes dies [syn: diemaker, diesinker, die-sinker].
Diesinking (n.) The process of engraving dies.
Dieses (n. pl. ) of Diesis
Syn: double daggers, double obelisks.
Diesis (n.) (Mus.) A small interval, less than any in actual practice, but used in the mathematical calculation of intervals.
Diesis (n.) (Print.) The mark [dag]; -- called also double dagger.
It is used in printing to indicate a cross reference or footnote.
Syn: double obelisk.
Dies Irae () Day of wrath; -- the name and beginning of a famous mediaeval Latin hymn on the Last Judgment.
Note: The text of the Dies Irae follows:
DIES IRAE attributed to Tomaso de Celano
Latin English
Dies irae, dies illa The day of wrath, that day solvet saeclum in favilla: which will reduce the world to ashes, teste David cum Sibylla. as foretold by David and the Sybil. Quantus tremor est futurus, What terror there will be, quando judex est venturus, when the Lord will come cuncta stricte discussurus! to rigorously judge all! Tuba mirum spargens sonum The trumpet, scattering a wondrous sound per sepulcra region among the graves of all the lands, coget omnes ante thronum. will assemble all before the Throne. Mors stupebit et natura, Death and Nature will be astounded cum resurget creatura, when they see a creature rise again judicanti responsura. to answer to the Judge. Liber scriptus proferetur, The book will be brought forth in quo totum continetur, in which all deeds are noted, unde mundus judicetur. for which humanity will answer. Judex ergo cum sedebit, When the judge will be seated, quidquid latet apparebit, all that is hidden will appear, nil inultum remanebit. and nothing will go unpunished. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Alas, what will I then say? Quem patronum rogaturus, To what advocate shall I appeal, cum vix justus sit securus? when even the just tremble? Rex tremendae majestatis, O king of redoutable majesty, qui salvandos salvas gratis, who freely saves the elect, salva me fons pietatis. save me, o fount of piety! Recordare Jesu pie, Remember, good Jesus, quod sum causa tuae viae, that I am the cause of your journey, ne me perdas illa die. do not lose me on that day. Quaerens me sedisti lassus, You wearied yourself in finding me. redemisti crucem passus, You have redeemed me through the cross. tantus labor non sit cassus. Let not such great efforts be in vain. Juste judex ultionis, O judge of vengeance, justly donum fac remissionis make a gift of your forgiveness ante diem rationis. before the day of reckoning. Ingemisco tanquam reus, I lament like a guilty one. culpa rubet vultus meus, My faults cause me to blush, supplicanti parce, Deus. I beg you, spare me. Qui Mariam absolvisti, You who have absolved Mary et latronem exaudisti, and have heard the thief's prayer, mihi quoque spem dedisti. have also given me hope. Preces meae non sunt dignae: My prayers are not worthy, sed tu bonus fac benigne, but you, o Good One, please grant freely ne perenni cremer igne. that I do not burn in the eternal fire. Inter oves locum praesta, Give me a place among the sheep, et ab haedis me sequestra, separate me from the goats statuens in parte dextra. by placing me at your right. Confutatis maledictis, Having destroyed the accursed, flammis acribus addictis: condemned them to the fierce flames, voca me cum benedictis. Count me among the blessed. Oro Supplex Et Acclinis, I prostrate myself, supplicating, Cor Contritum Quasi Cinis, my heart in ashes, repentant; Gere Curam Mei Finis. take good care of my last moment! Lacrimosa dies illa, That tearful day, qua resurget ex favilla when shall rise again from the ashes judicandus homo reus. sinful man to be judged. Huic ergo parce, Deus: Therefore pardon him, o God. pie Jesu Domine, Holy Lord Jesus, dona eis requiem. give them rest. Amen. Amen.
Dies Irae (n.) The first words of a medieval Latin hymn describing the Last Judgment (literally `day of wrath').
Dies juridici (n. pl. ) of Dies juridicus
Dies juridicus () [L.] (Law) A court day.
Dies non () (Law) A day on which courts are not held, as Sunday or any legal holiday.
DIES NON or DIES NON JURIDICI. Non-judicial days. Days during which courts do not transact any business, as Sunday. The entry of judgment upon such a day is void. W. Jones, 156.
Diestock (n.) A stock to hold the dies used for cutting screws. Diestrous
Diestock (n.) A device that holds the dies that cut external threads on metal cylinders.
Diet (n.) Course of living or nourishment; what is eaten and drunk habitually; food; victuals; fare. "No inconvenient diet." -- Milton.
Diet (n.) A course of food selected with reference to a particular state of health; prescribed allowance of food; regimen prescribed.
To fast like one that takes diet. -- Shak.
Diet kitchen, A kitchen in which diet is prepared for invalids; a charitable establishment that provides proper food for the sick poor.
Dieted (imp. & p. p.) of Diet
Dieting (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Diet
Diet (v. t.) To cause to take food; to feed. [R.] -- Shak.
Diet (v. t.) To cause to eat and drink sparingly, or by prescribed rules; to regulate medicinally the food of.
She diets him with fasting every day. -- Spenser.
Diet (v. i.) To eat; to take one's meals. [Obs.]
Let him . . . diet in such places, where there is good company of the nation, where he traveleth. -- Bacon.
Diet (v. i.) To eat according to prescribed rules; to ear sparingly; as, the doctor says he must diet.
Diet (n.) A legislative or
administrative assembly in Germany, Poland, and some other countries of Europe;
a deliberative convention; a council; as, the Diet of
Specifically: Any of various national or local assemblies; as,
(a) Occasionally, the Reichstag of the German Empire, Reichsrath of the Austrian Empire, the federal legislature of Switzerland, etc.
(b) The legislature of Denmark, Sweden, Japan, or Hungary.
(c) The state assembly or any of various local assemblies in the states of the German Empire, as the legislature (Landtag) of the kingdom of Prussia, and the Diet of the Circle (Kreistag) in its local government.
(d) The local legislature (Landtag) of an Austrian province.
(e) The federative assembly of the old Germanic Confederation (1815 -- 66).
(f) In the old German or Holy Roman Empire, the great formal assembly of counselors (the Imperial Diet or Reichstag) or a small, local, or informal assembly of a similar kind (the Court Diet, or Hoftag).
Note: The most celebrated Imperial Diets are the three following, all held under Charles V.:
Diet of Worms, 1521, The object of which was to check the Reformation and which condemned Luther as a heretic;
Diet of Spires, or Diet of Speyer, 1529, which had the same object and issued an edict against the further dissemination of the new doctrines, against which edict Lutheran princes and deputies protested (hence Protestants):
Diet of Augsburg, 1530, The object of which was the settlement of religious disputes, and at which the Augsburg Confession was presented but was denounced by the emperor, who put its adherents under the imperial ban.
Diet (n.) A prescribed selection of foods.
Diet (n.) A legislative assembly in certain countries (e.g., Japan).
Diet (n.) The usual food and drink consumed by an organism (person or animal).
Diet (n.) The act of restricting your food intake (or your intake of particular foods) [syn: diet, dieting].
Diet (v.) Follow a regimen or a diet, as for health reasons; "He has high blood pressure and must stick to a low-salt diet".
Diet (v.) Eat sparingly, for health reasons or to lose weight.
Dietarian (n.) One who lives in accordance with prescribed rules for diet; a dieter.
Dietary (a.) Pertaining to diet, or to the rules of diet.
Dietaries (n. pl. ) of Dietary
Dietary (n.) A rule of diet; a fixed allowance of food, as in workhouse, prison, etc.
Dietary (a.) Of or relating to the diet; "dietary restrictions" [syn: dietary, dietetic, dietetical].
Dietary (n.) A regulated daily food allowance.
Dieter (n.) One who diets; one who prescribes, or who partakes of, food, according to hygienic rules. Dietetic
Dieter (n.) A person who diets.
Dietetic (a.) Alt. of Dietetical
Dietetical (a.) Of or performance to diet, or to the rules for regulating the kind and quantity of food to be eaten.
Dietetical (a.) Of or relating to the diet; "dietary restrictions" [syn: dietary, dietetic, dietetical].
Dietetic (a.) Of or relating to the diet; "dietary restrictions" [syn: dietary, dietetic, dietetical].
Dietetically (adv.) In a dietetical manner.
Dietetics (n.) That part of the medical or hygienic art which relates to diet or food; rules for diet.
To suppose that the whole of dietetics lies in determining whether or not bread is more nutritive than potatoes. -- H. Spencer.
Dietetics (n.) The scientific study of food preparation and intake.
Dietetist (n.) A physician who applies the rules of dietetics to the cure of diseases. -- Dunglison.
Diethylamine (n.) (Chem.) A colorless, volatile, alkaline liquid, NH(C2H5)2, having a strong fishy odor resembling that of herring or sardines. Cf. Methylamine.
Dietic (a.) Dietetic.
Dietical (a.) Dietetic. [R.] -- Ferrand.
Dietine (n.) A subordinate or local assembly; a diet of inferior rank.
Dietist (n.) Alt. of Dietitian
Dietitian (n.) One skilled in dietetics. [R.]
Diffame (n.) Evil name; bad reputation; defamation. [Obs.] -- Chaucer.
Diffarreation (n.) A form of divorce, among the ancient Romans, in which a cake was used. See Confarreation.
Differed (imp. & p. p.) of Differ
Differing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Differ
Differ (v. i.) To be or stand apart; to disagree; to be unlike; to be distinguished; -- with from.
One star differeth from another star in glory. -- 1 Cor. xv. 41.
Minds differ, as rivers differ. -- Macaulay.
Differ (v. i.) To be of unlike or opposite opinion; to disagree in sentiment; -- often with from or with.
Differ (v. i.) To have a difference, cause of variance, or quarrel; to dispute; to contend.
We 'll never differ with a crowded pit. -- Rowe.
Syn: To vary; disagree; dissent; dispute; contend; oppose; wrangle.
Usage: -- To Differ with, Differ from. Both differ from and differ with are used in reference to opinions; as, "I differ from you or with you in that opinion." In all other cases, expressing simple unlikeness, differ from is used; as, these two persons or things differ entirely from each other.
Severely punished, Not for differing from us in opinion, but for committing a nuisance. -- Macaulay.
Davidson, whom on a former occasion we quoted, to differ from him. -- M. Arnold.
Much as I differ from him concerning an essential part of the historic basis of religion. -- Gladstone.
I differ with the honorable gentleman on that point. -- Brougham.
If the honorable gentleman differs with me on that subject, I differ as heartily with him, and shall always rejoice to differ. -- Canning.
Differ (v. t.) To cause to be different or unlike; to set at variance. [R.]
But something 'ts that differs thee and me. -- Cowley.
Differ (v.) Be different; "These two tests differ in only one respect" [ant: be, equal].
Differ (v.) Be of different opinions; "I beg to differ!"; "She disagrees with her husband on many questions" [syn: disagree, differ, dissent, take issue] [ant: agree, concord, concur, hold].
Difference (n.) The act of differing; the state or measure of being different or unlike; distinction; dissimilarity; unlikeness; variation; as, a difference of quality in paper; a difference in degrees of heat, or of light; what is the difference between the innocent and the guilty?
Differencies of administration, but the same Lord. -- 1 Cor. xii. 5.
Difference (n.) Disagreement in opinion; dissension; controversy; quarrel; hence, cause of dissension; matter in controversy.
What was the difference? It was a contention in public. -- Shak.
Away therefore went I with the constable, leaving the old warden and the young constable to compose their difference as they could. -- T. Ellwood.
Difference (n.) That by which one thing differs from another; that which distinguishes or causes to differ; mark of distinction; characteristic quality; specific attribute.
The marks and differences of sovereignty. -- Davies.
Difference (n.) Choice; preference. [Obs.]
That now he chooseth with vile difference To be a beast, and lack intelligence. -- Spenser.
Difference (n.) (Her.) An addition to a coat of arms to distinguish the bearings of two persons, which would otherwise be the same. See Augmentation, and Marks of cadency, under Cadency.
Difference (n.) (Logic) The quality or attribute which is added to those of the genus to constitute a species; a differentia.
Difference (n.) (Math.) The quantity by which one quantity differs from another, or the remainder left after subtracting the one from the other.
Ascensional difference. See under Ascensional.
Syn: Distinction; dissimilarity; dissimilitude; variation; diversity; variety; contrariety; disagreement; variance; contest; contention; dispute; controversy; debate; quarrel; wrangle; strife.
Difference (n.) The quality of being unlike or dissimilar; "there are many differences between jazz and rock" [ant: sameness].
Difference (n.) A variation that deviates from the standard or norm; "the deviation from the mean" [syn: deviation, divergence, departure, difference].
Difference (n.) A disagreement or argument about something important; "he had a dispute with his wife"; "there were irreconcilable differences"; "the familiar conflict between Republicans and Democrats" [syn: dispute, difference, difference of opinion, conflict].
Difference (n.) A significant change; "the difference in her is amazing"; "his support made a real difference".
Difference (n.) The number that remains after subtraction; the number that when added to the subtrahend gives the minuend [syn: remainder, difference].
Difference. () A dispute, contest, disagreement, quarrel.
Differenced (imp. & p. p.) of Difference
Differencing (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Difference
Difference (v. t.) To cause to differ; to make different; to mark as different; to distinguish.
Thou mayest difference gods from men. -- Chapman.
Kings, in receiving justice and undergoing trial, are not differenced from the meanest subject. -- Milton.
So completely differenced by their separate and individual characters that we at once acknowledge them as distinct persons. -- Sir W. Scott.
Different (a.) Distinct; separate; not the same; other. "Five different churches." -- Addison.
Different (a.) Of various or contrary nature, form, or quality; partially or totally unlike; dissimilar; as, different kinds of food or drink; different states of health; different shapes; different degrees of excellence.
Men are as different from each other, as the regions in which they are born are different. -- Dryden.
Note: Different is properly followed by from. Different to, for different from, is a common English colloquialism. Different than is quite inadmissible.
Different (a.) Unlike in nature or quality or form or degree; "took different approaches to the problem"; "came to a different conclusion"; "different parts of the country"; "on different sides of the issue"; "this meeting was different from the earlier one" [ant: same].
Different (a.) Distinctly separate from the first; "that's another (or different) issue altogether".
Different (a.) Differing from all others; not ordinary; "advertising that strives continually to be different"; "this new music is certainly different but I don't really like it".
Different (a.) Marked by dissimilarity; "for twins they are very unlike"; "people are profoundly different" [syn: unlike, dissimilar, different] [ant: like, similar].
Different (a.) Distinct or separate; "each interviewed different members of the community".
Differentiae (n. pl. ) of Differentia
Differentia (n.) (Logic) The formal or distinguishing part of the essence of a species, by which it is distinguished from other members of its genus; the characteristic attribute of a species; specific difference; as, a proper definition must have both genus and differentia.
Differentia (n.) The set of characteristics distinguishing an entity from related entities.
Differential (a.) Relating to or indicating a difference; creating a difference; discriminating; special; as, differential characteristics; differential duties; a differential rate.
For whom he produced differential favors. -- Motley.
Differential (a.) (Math.) Of or pertaining to a differential, or to differentials.
Differential (a.) (Mech.) Relating to differences of motion or leverage; producing effects by such differences; said of mechanism.
Differential calculus. (Math.) See under Calculus.
Differential coefficient, The limit of the ratio of the increment of a function of a variable to the increment of the variable itself, when these increments are made indefinitely small.
Differential coupling, A form of slip coupling used in light machinery to regulate at pleasure the velocity of the connected shaft.
Differential duties (Polit. Econ.), Duties which are not imposed equally upon the same products imported from different countries.
Differential galvanometer (Elec.), A galvanometer having two coils or circuits, usually equal, through which currents passing in opposite directions are measured by the difference of their effect upon the needle.
Differential gearing, A train of toothed wheels, usually an epicyclic train, so arranged as to constitute a differential motion.
Differential motion, A mechanism in which a simple differential combination produces such a change of motion or force as would, with ordinary compound arrangements, require a considerable train of parts. It is used for overcoming great resistance or producing very slow or very rapid motion.
Differential pulley. (Mach.) (a) A portable hoisting apparatus, the same in principle as the differential windlass.
Differential pulley. (Mach.) (b) A hoisting pulley to which power is applied through a differential gearing.
Differential screw, A compound screw by which a motion is produced equal to the difference of the motions of the component screws.
Differential thermometer, A thermometer usually with a U-shaped tube terminating in two air bulbs, and containing a colored liquid, used for indicating the difference between the temperatures to which the two bulbs are exposed, by the change of position of the colored fluid, in consequence of the different expansions of the air in the bulbs. A graduated scale is attached to one leg of the tube.
Differential windlass, or Chinese windlass, A windlass whose barrel has two parts of different diameters. The hoisting rope winds upon one part as it unwinds from the other, and a pulley sustaining the weight to be lifted hangs in the bight of the rope. It is an ancient example of a differential motion.
Differential (n.) (Math.) An increment, usually an indefinitely small one, which is given to a variable quantity.
Note: According to the more modern writers upon the differential and integral calculus, if two or more quantities are dependent on each other, and subject to increments of value, their differentials need not be small, but are any quantities whose ratios to each other are the limits to which the ratios of the increments approximate, as these increments are reduced nearer and nearer to zero.
Differential (n.) A small difference in rates which competing railroad lines, in establishing a common tariff, allow one of their number to make, in order to get a fair share of the business. The lower rate is called a differential rate. Differentials are also sometimes granted to cities.
Differential (n.) (Elec.) One of two coils of conducting wire so related to one another or to a magnet or armature common to both, that one coil produces polar action contrary to that of the other.
Differential (n.) (Elec.) A form of conductor used for dividing and distributing the current to a series of electric lamps so as to maintain equal action in all. -- Knight.
Partial differential (Math.), The differential of a function of two or more variables, when only one of the variables receives an increment.
Total differential (Math.), The differential of a function of two or more variables, when each of the variables receives an increment. The total differential of the function is the sum of all the partial differentials.
Differential (a.) Relating to or showing a difference; "differential treatment".
Differential (a.) Involving or containing one or more derivatives "differential equation".
Differential (n.) The result of mathematical differentiation; the instantaneous change of one quantity relative to another; df(x)/dx [syn: derived function, derivative, differential coefficient, differential, first derivative].
Differential (n.) A quality that differentiates between similar things.
Differential (n.) A bevel gear that permits rotation of two shafts at different speeds; used on the rear axle of automobiles to allow wheels to rotate at different speeds on curves [syn: differential gear, differential].
Differentially (adv.) In the way of differentiation.
Differentially (adv.) In a differential manner; "Hubel and Wiesel have found cells that respond differentially according to the direction in which a stimulus is moved across the retina".
Differentiate (v. t.) To distinguish or mark by a specific difference; to effect a difference in, as regards classification; to develop differential characteristics in; to specialize; to desynonymize.
The word then was differentiated into the two forms then and than. -- Earle.
Two or more of the forms assumed by the same original word become differentiated in signification. -- Dr. Murray.
Differentiate (v. t.) To express the specific difference of; to describe the properties of (a thing) whereby it is differenced from another of the same class; to discriminate. -- Earle.
Differentiate (v. t.) (Math.) To obtain the differential, or differential coefficient, of; as, to differentiate an algebraic expression, or an equation.
Differentiate (v. i.) (Biol.) To acquire a distinct and separate character. -- Huxley.
Differentiate (v.) 1: Mark as different; "We distinguish several kinds of maple" [syn: distinguish, separate, differentiate, secern, secernate, severalize, severalise, tell, tell apart].
Differentiate (v.) Be a distinctive feature, attribute, or trait; sometimes in a very positive sense; "His modesty distinguishes him from his peers" [syn: distinguish, mark, differentiate].
Differentiate (v.) Calculate a derivative; take the derivative [ant: integrate].
Differentiate (v.) Become different during development; "cells differentiate" [ant: dedifferentiate].
Differentiate (v.) Evolve so as to lead to a new species or develop in a way most suited to the environment [syn: speciate, differentiate, specialize, specialise].
Differentiate (v.) Become distinct and acquire a different character.
Differentiation (n.) The act of differentiating.
Further investigation of the Sanskrit may lead to differentiation of the meaning of such of these roots as are real roots. -- J. Peile.
Differentiation (n.) (Logic) The act of distinguishing or describing a thing, by giving its different, or specific difference; exact definition or determination.
Differentiation (n.) (Biol.) The gradual formation or production of organs or parts by a process of evolution or development, as when the seed develops the root and the stem, the initial stem develops the leaf, branches, and flower buds; or in animal life, when the germ evolves the digestive and other organs and members, or when the animals as they advance in organization acquire special organs for specific purposes.
Differentiation (n.) (Metaph.) The supposed act or tendency in being of every kind, whether organic or inorganic, to assume or produce a more complex structure or functions.
Differentiator (n.) One who, or that which, differentiates.
Differentiator (n.) A person who (or that which) differentiates [syn: differentiator, discriminator].
Differentiation (n.) A discrimination between things as different and distinct; "it is necessary to make a distinction between love and infatuation" [syn: differentiation, distinction].
Differentiation (n.) The mathematical process of obtaining the derivative of a function.
Differentiation (n.) (Biology) The structural adaptation of some body part for a particular function; "cell differentiation in the developing embryo" [syn: specialization, specialisation, differentiation].
Differently (adv.) In a different manner; variously.
Differently (adv.) In another and different manner; "very soon you will know differently"; "she thought otherwise"; "there is no way out other than the fire escape"; [syn: differently, otherwise, other than].
Differingly (adv.) In a differing or different manner. -- Boyle.
Difficile (a.) Difficult; hard to manage; stubborn. [Obs.] -- Dif"fi*cile*ness, n. [Obs.] -- Bacon.
Difficilitate (v. t.) To make difficult. [Obs.] -- W. Montagu.
Difficult (a.) Hard to do or to make; beset with difficulty; attended with labor, trouble, or pains; not easy; arduous.
Note: Difficult implies the notion that considerable mental effort or skill is required, or that obstacles are to be overcome which call for sagacity and skill in the agent; as, a difficult task; hard work is not always difficult work; a difficult operation in surgery; a difficult passage in an author.
There is not the strength or courage left me to venture into the wide, strange, and difficult world, alone. -- Hawthorne.
Difficult (a.) Hard to manage or to please; not easily wrought upon; austere; stubborn; as, a difficult person.
Syn: Arduous; painful; crabbed; perplexed; laborious; unaccommodating; troublesome. See Arduous.
Difficult (v. t.) To render difficult; to impede; to perplex. [R.] -- Sir W. Temple.
Difficult (a.) Not easy; requiring great physical or mental effort to accomplish or comprehend or endure; "a difficult task"; "nesting places on the cliffs are difficult of access"; "difficult times"; "why is it so hard for you to keep a secret?" [syn: difficult, hard] [ant: easy].
Difficult (a.) Hard to control; "a difficult child", "an unmanageable situation" [syn: unmanageable, difficult] [ant: manageable].