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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.

to disunite. A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less than the matted forest. Bancroft.

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.]

the doctor of a calico- printing machine, which is a knife to remove superfluous coloring matter; the doctor, or auxiliary engine, called also donkey engine.

A matter of doctrine; also, a system of doctrines. T. Goodwin. Sir T. Elyot.

Domestic. [Obs.] Our private and domestical matter. Sir. P. Sidney.

A bundle containing the papers in reference to some matter.

two players are put out at the same time. -- Double plea (Law), a plea alleging several matters in answer to the declaration, where either of such matters alone would be a sufficient bar to the action. Stephen. -- Double point (Geom.), a point of a curve at which two branches cross each other. Conjugate or isolated…

to the truth of the negative or the affirmative proposition; to b e undetermined. Even in matters divine, concerning some things, we may lawfully doubt, and suspend our judgment. Hooker. To try your love and make you doubt of mine. Dryden.

Fine, soft, hairy outgrowth from the skin or surface of animals or plants, not matted and fleecy like wool; esp.:

Refuse; lees; dregs; the wash given to swine or cows; hogwash; waste matter. Prodigals lately come from swine keeping, from eating draff and husks. Shak. The draff and offal of a bygone age. Buckle. Mere chaff and draff, much better burnt. Tennyson.

A house for the reception of waste matter; a privy. [Obs.] 2 Kings x. 27.

Very fine mineral matter held in suspension in water. Raymond.

Corrupt or defiling matter contained in a liquid, or precipitated from it; refuse; feculence; lees; grounds; sediment; hence, the vilest and most worthless part of anything; as, the dregs of society. We, the dregs and rubbish of mankind. Dryden.

A mass of matter which has been driven or forced onward together in a body, or thrown together in a heap, etc., esp. by wind or water; as, a drift of snow, of ice, of sand, and the like. Drifts of rising dust involve the sky. Pope. We got the brig a good bed in the rushing drift [of ice]. Kane.

The scum or refuse matter which is thrown off, or falls from, metals in smelting the ore, or in the process of melting; recrement.