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A wall-like mass of mineral matter, usually an intrusion of igneous rocks, filling up rents or fissures in the original strata.

aw), 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.

The subject matter of instruction; a branch of knowledge. Bp. Wilkins.

ty of being discreet; wise conduct and management; cautious discernment, especially as to matters of propriety and self- control; prudence; circumspection; wariness. The better part of valor is discretion. Shak. The greatest parts without discretion may be fatal to their owner. Hume.

Able or tending to discuss or disperse tumors or coagulated matter.

Serving to disperse morbid matter; discussive; as, a discutient application. -- n.

To free from infectious or contagious matter; to destroy putrefaction; to purify; to make innocuous. When the infectious matter and the infectious matter and the odoriferous matter are one . . . then to deodorize is to disinfect. Ure.

The act of disinfecting; purification from infecting matter.

discharge from office, service, or employment; as, the king dismisses his ministers; the matter dismisses his servant.

To make haste; to conclude an affair; to finish a matter of business. They have dispatched with Pompey. Shak.

To give dispensation. He [the pope] can also dispense in all matters of ecclesiastical law. Addis & Arnold (Cath. Dict. ) To dispense with. (a) To permit the neglect or omission of, as a form, a ceremony, an oath; to suspend the operation of, as a law; to give up, release, or do without, as services, attention, etc.; t…

out of possession, wrongfully or otherwise, of one who is in possession of a freehold, no matter in what title; -- called also ouster.

tic inquiry into, or discussion of, any subject; a full examination or investigation of a matter, with the arguments and facts bearing upon it; elaborate essay; dissertation. For accurate research or grave disquisition he was not well qualified. Macaulay.

state of dispersion or separation; dispersion; waste. Without loss or dissipation of the matter. Bacon. The famous dissipation of mankind. Sir M. Hale.

Tending to dissipate. Dissipative system (Mech.), an assumed system of matter and motions in which forces of friction and resistances of other kinds are introduced without regard to the heat or other molecular actions which they generate; -- opposed to conservative system.

l and apparent good. The distinction betwixt the animal kingdom and the inferior parts of matter. Locke.

vide; to part; to sever; to disjoin; to sunder; to separate; as, to disunite particles of matter.

which their parts are capable of separation. Divisibility . . . is a primary attribute of matter. Sir W. Hamilton.

art, metallurgy, or the art of assaying metals; the art of separating metals from foreign matters, and determining the nature and quantity of metallic substances contained in any ore or mineral.

A list or calendar of business matters to be acted on in any assembly. On the docket, in hand; in the plan; under consideration; in process of execution or performance. [Colloq.]