Search the Dictionary

To clear, by forcing away what is contained. To drive the country, force the swains away. Dryden.

Dock. -- Dry fat. See Dry vat (below). -- Dry light, pure unobstructed light; hence, a clear, impartial view. Bacon. The scientific man must keep his feelings under stern control, lest they obtrude into his researches, and color the dry light in which alone science desires to see its objects. J. C. Shairp. -- Dry ma…

Occasioning doubt; not clear, or obvious; equivocal; questionable; doubtful; as, a dubious answer. Wiping the dingy shirt with a still more dubious pocket handkerchief. Thackeray.

Not bright or clear to the eye; wanting in liveliness of color or luster; not vivid; obscure; dim; as, a dull fire or lamp; a dull red or yellow; a dull mirror.

Lacking brightness or clearness, as a color. [R.] Her stern was painted of a dumb white or dun color. De Foe. Deaf and dumb. See Deaf-mute. -- Dumb ague, or Dumb chill, a form of intermittent fever which has no well-defined "chill." [U.S.] -- Dumb animal, any animal except man; -- usually restricted to a domestic quad…

The clear, viscid fluid secreted by the poison glands of certain serpents; also, a nitrogenous base contained in this, and supposed to be the active poisonous principle of the virus. Brande & C.

To make clear; to clear up what is obscure or not understood; to explain.

The clearing up of anything which is obscure or not easily understood; an explanation. The eclaircissement ended in the discovery of the informer. Clarendon.

A clearing away of stones. [R.]

races of intonation, gesture, etc.; style or manner of speaking or reading in public; as, clear, impressive elocution. "The elocution of a reader." Whately

To make clear or manifest; to render more intelligible; to illustrate; as, an example will elucidate the subject.

A making clear; the act of elucidating or that which elucidates, as an explanation, an exposition, an illustration; as, one example may serve for further elucidation of the subject.

Making clear; tending to elucidate; as, an elucidative note.

To clear from spots or stains, or from any imperfection. [Obs.] Hales.

The act of clearing from spots. [Obs.] Johnson.

Free; clear; devoid; -- often with of. "That fair female troop . . . empty of all good." Milton. I shall find you empty of that fault. Shak.

To make clear to the intellect or conscience; to shed the light of truth and knowledge upon; to furnish with increase of knowledge; to instruct; as, to enlighten the mind or understanding. The conscience enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God. Trench.

who enlightens or illuminates; one who, or that which, communicates light to the eye, or clear views to the mind.

The act or operation of clearing of knots, or of untying; hence, also, the solution of a difficulty. [R.] Bailey.

To clear of knots; to make clear. [Obs.] Cockeram.