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A plate with an opening, which is generally circular, used in instruments to cut off marginal portions of a beam of light, as at the focus of a telescope.

A figure by which a syllable naturally short is made long.

Motley. Dilatory plea (Law), a plea designed to create delay in the trial of a cause, generally founded upon some matter not connected with the merits of the case.

In a dioecious manner. Dioeciously hermaphrodite (Bot.), having flowers structurally perfect, but practically dioecious, -- those on one plant producing no pollen, and those on another no ovules.

sposition. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne. Do dispositively what Moses is recorded to have done literally, . . . break all the ten commandments at once. Boyle.

onant to truth." South. What can be dissonant from reason and nature than that a man, naturally inclined to clemency, should show himself unkind and inhuman Hakewill.

To force or put out of the true posture or direction; to twist aside mentally or morally. Wrath and malice, envy and revenge, do darken and distort the understandings of men. Tillotson.

A plunge headforemost into water, the act of one who dives, literally or figuratively.

a typical form; to vary from a normal condition; to dissent from a creed or position generally held or taken.

ic; to several or communicate to the public; to tell (a secret) so that it may become generally known; to disclose; -- said of that which had been confided as a secret, or had been before unknown; as, to divulge a secret. Divulge not such a love as mine. Cowper.

Sullen; morose. [Obs. or R.] The sulky spite of a temper naturally dogged. Sir W. Scott.

Pertaining to the surface naturally inferior, as of a leaf.

r stamens and pistils. The white water lily and some other plants have their blossoms naturally double.

osed of two pieces of crystal, with a color them, and thus giving the appearance of a naturally colored gem. Also, a piece of paste or glass covered by a veneer of real stone.

From a higher to a lower position, literally or figuratively; in a descending direction; from the top of an ascent; from an upright position; to the ground or floor; to or into a lower or an inferior condition; as, into a state of humility, disgrace, misery, and the like; into a state of rest; -- used with verbs indica…

A fabulous animal, generally represented as a monstrous winged serpent or lizard, with a crested head and enormous claws, and regarded as very powerful and ferocious. The dragons which appear in early paintings and sculptures are invariably representations of a winged crocodile. Fairholt.

One who draws plans and sketches of machinery, structures, and places; also, more generally, one who makes drawings of any kind.

To move; to come or go; literally, to draw one's self; -- with prepositions and adverbs; as, to draw away, to move off, esp. in racing, to get in front; to obtain the lead or increase it; to draw back, to retreat; to draw level, to move up even (with another); to come up to or overtake another; to draw off, to retire o…

A gallery or circle in a theater, generally the first above the floor, in which originally dress clothes were customarily worn.

The depth of a square sail; -- generally applied to the courses only. Ham. Nav. Encyc.