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A two-drachma piece; an ancient Greek silver coin, worth nearly forty cents.

A form of divorce, among the ancient Romans, in which a cake was used. See Confarreation.

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.

and copiously; to dwell in narration; to enlarge; -- with on or upon. But still on their ancient joys dilate. Crabbe.

y a flood or deluge of water; -- said of coarse and imperfectly stratified deposits along ancient or existing water courses. Similar unstratified deposits were formed by the agency of ice. The time of deposition has been called the Diluvian epoch.

An ancient gold coin of the East.

The science of diplomas, or the art of deciphering ancient writings, and determining their age, authenticity, etc.; paleography.

The act of reclining at table according to the manner of the ancients at their meals. Sir T. Browne.

A state of being in bad condition, and wanting repair. The fortifications were ancient and in disrepair. Sir W. Scott.

of dissolving, sundering, or separating into component parts; separation. Dissolutions of ancient amities. Shak.

Ancient heretics who held that Christ's body was merely a phantom or appearance.

d the early part of September; canicular days; -- so called in reference to the rising in ancient times of the Dog Star (Sirius) with the sun. Popularly, the sultry, close part of the summer.

One of an ancient sect of physicians who went by general principles; -- opposed to the Empiric.

A rude ancient ax or hatchet, seen in museums.

Distribution; dealing; apportionment. At her general dole, Each receives his ancient soul. Cleveland.

A title anciently given to the pope, and later to other church dignitaries and some monastic orders. See Don, and Dan.

A day of judgment. See Doomsday. [Obs.] Domesday Book, the ancient record of the survey of most of the lands of England, made by order of William the Conqueror, about 1086. It consists of two volumes, a large folio and a quarto, and gives the proprietors' tenures, arable land, woodland, etc. [Written also Doomsday Book…

Anciently, one to whom lands were given; in later use, one to whom lands and tenements are given in tail; in modern use, one on whom a power is conferred for execution; -- sometimes called the appointor.

The chief tower, also called the keep; a massive tower in ancient castles, forming the strongest part of the fortifications. See Illust. of Castle.

The nail or knob on which in ancient doors the knocker struck; -- hence the old saying, "As dead as a doornail."