Search the Dictionary

The act of dismembering, or the state of being dismembered; cutting in piece; m The Castilians would doubtless have resented the dismemberment of the unwieldy body of which they formed the head. Macaulay.

To turn away from the cast; to confuse as to which way is east; to cause to lose one's bearings. [R.] Bp. Warburton.

Cast of mind; disposition; inclination; behavior; demeanor. [Obs.] He hath a person, and a smooth dispose To be suspected. Shak.

rive of peace, rest, or tranquility; to make uneasy or restless; to disturb. Why art thou cast down, O my soul, and why art thou disquieted within me Ps. xlii. 11. As quiet as these disquieted times will permit. Sir W. Scott.

To sow broadcast or as seed; to scatter for growth and propagation, like seed; to spread abroad; to diffuse; as, principles, ideas, opinions, and errors are disseminated when they are spread abroad for propagation.

Any shellfish which casts its shell, as a lobster. [Prov. Eng.]

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

Downcast; as, a down look. [R.]

Having a downcast countenance; dejected; gloomy; sullen. [R.] Dryden.

To make dull; to stupefy. [Obs.] I was an hour . . . in casting up about twenty sums, being dozed with much work. Pepys. They left for a long time dozed and benumbed. South.

pleasant dreams. Bryant. All the decent drapery of life is to be rudely torn off. Burke. Casting of draperies. See under Casting. The casting of draperies . . . is one of the most important of an artist's studies. Fairholt.

nto the deep, and let down your nets for a draught. Luke v. 4. He laid down his pipe, and cast his net, which brought him a very great draught. L'Estrange.

ed in advance of the thing moved; to pull along; to haul; to drag; to cause to follow. He cast him down to ground, and all along Drew him through dirt and mire without remorse. Spenser. He hastened to draw the stranger into a private room. Sir W. Scott. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seat…

rned aside, to admit or hinder communication at pleasure, as before the gate of a town or castle, or over a navigable river or canal.

Castigation; scolding; -- often with down. [Colloq.] Dressing case, a case of toilet utensils. -- Dressing forceps, a variety of forceps, shaped like a pair of scissors, used in dressing wounds. -- Dressing gown, a light gown, such as is used by a person while dressing; a study gown. -- Dressing room, an apartment a…

blow. -- Dry bone (Min.), Smithsonite, or carbonate of zinc; -- a miner's term. -- Dry castor (Zoöl.) a kind of beaver; -- called also parchment beaver. -- Dry cupping. (Med.) See under Cupping. -- Dry dock. See under Dock. -- Dry fat. See Dry vat (below). -- Dry light, pure unobstructed light; hence, a clear, i…

; depressing; as, a dull story or sermon; a dull occupation or period; hence, cloudy; overcast; as, a dull day. Along life's dullest, dreariest walk. Keble.

A close, dark prison, commondonjon or keep of a castle, these being used as prisons. Down with him even into the deep dungeon. Tyndale. Year after year he lay patiently in a dungeon. Macaulay.

The esculent tubers of the umbelliferous plants Bunium flexuosum and Carum Bulbocastanum.

The edges or lower borders of the roof of a building, which overhang the walls, and cast off the water that falls on the roof.