Search the Dictionary

ench Directory, characterized by great extravagance of design and imitating the Greek and Roman costumes.

A service for the dead, in the Roman Catholic Church, being the first antiphon of Matins for the dead, of which Dirige is the first word; a dirge. Evensongs and placebo and dirige. Wyclif. Resort, I pray you, unto my sepulture To sing my dirige with great devotion. Lamentation of Mary Magdalene.

sion to do something forbidden, or to omit doing something enjoined; specifically, in the Roman Catholic Church, exemption from some ecclesiastical law or obligation to God which a man has incurred of his own free will (oaths, vows, etc.). A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr. Barrow to marry. Ward.…

A gift; a largess; a gratuity; a present. "The Romans were entertained with shows and donatives." Dryden.

msy craft, having one mast with a long sail, used for trading purposes on the coasts of Coromandel and Ceylon. [Written also dhony, doney, and done.]

f architecture used by the Greeks, but ranked as second of the five orders adopted by the Romans. See Abacus, Capital, Order.

A translation of the Scriptures into the English language for the use of English-speaking Roman Catholics; -- done from the Latin Vulgate by English scholars resident in France. The New Testament portion was published at Rheims, A. D. 1582, the Old Testament at Douai, A. D. 1609-10. Various revised editions have since…

One of two Roman officers or magistrates united in the same public functions.

The figure of an eagle borne as an emblem on the standard of the ancient Romans, or so used upon the seal or standard of any people. Though the Roman eagle shadow thee. Tennyson.

y heard; favor; attention. Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. Bacon. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Shak. About the ears, in close proximity to; near at hand. -- By the ears, in close contest; as, to set by the ears; to fall together by the ears; to be by the ears. -- Button ear (in dogs)…

ion of the Christian church which prevails in the countries once comprised in the Eastern Roman Empire and the countries converted to Christianity by missionaries from them. Its full official title is The Orthodox Catholic Apostolic Eastern Church. It became estranged from the Western, or Roman, Church over the questio…

The quarter-round molding (ovolo) of the Roman Doric style. See Illust. of Column

bsolute authority, as if by the very act of announcement; a decree; as, the edicts of the Roman emperors; the edicts of the French monarch. It stands as an edict in destiny. Shak. Edict of Nantes (French Hist.), an edict issued by Henry IV. (A. D. 1598), giving toleration to Protestants. Its revocation by Louis XIV. (A…

Relating to, or consisting of, edicts; as, the Roman edictal law.

A title of honor, especially applied to a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church.

To soften; to render effeminate. Emolliated by four centuries of Roman domination, the Belgic colonies had forgotten their pristine valor. Pinkerton.

square of about seven hundred yards was sufficient for the encampment of twenty thousand Romans. Gibbon. A green encampment yonder meets the eye. Guardian.

Pertaining to Epictetus, the Roman Stoic philosopher, whose conception of life was to be passionless under whatever circumstances.

Belonging to, or composed of, the ancient Roman equities or knights; as, the equestrian order. Burke.

r of knights holding a middle place between the senate and the commonalty; members of the Roman equestrian order.