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icularly, a half mask worn at masquerades, to conceal the upper part of the face. Dominos were formerly worn by ladies in traveling.

A gift; a largess; a gratuity; a present. "The Romans were entertained with shows and donatives." Dryden.

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.

endezvous in time of war. On the 11th [June, 1771] we run up the channel . . . at noon we were abreast of Dover, and about three came to an anchor in the Downs, and went ashore at Deal. Cook (First Voyage).

A sudden descent from rank or state, reputation or happiness; destruction; ruin. Dire were the consequences which would follow the downfall of so important a place. Motley.

621 b. c. Draconian code, or Draconian laws, a code of laws made by Draco. Their measures were so severe that they were said to be written in letters of blood; hence, any laws of excessive rigor.

ag stone or timber; to drag a net in fishing. Dragged by the cords which through his feet were thrust. Denham. The grossness of his nature will have weight to drag thee down. Tennyson. A needless Alexandrine ends the song That, like a wounded snake, drags its slow length along. Pope.

A minute quantity; a mite. Were I the chooser, a dram of well-doing should be preferred before many times as mush the forcible hindrance of evildoing. Milton.

olds of cloth, or as with drapery; as, to drape a bust, a building, etc. The whole people were draped professionally. De Quincey. These starry blossoms, [of the snow] pure and white, Soft falling, falling, through the night, Have draped the woods and mere. Bungay.

To select by the drawing of lots. Provided magistracies were filled by men freely chosen or drawn. Freeman.

itted or paid back by the government, on the exportation of the commodities on which they were levied. M

rcle in a theater, generally the first above the floor, in which originally dress clothes were customarily worn.

ey was paid in dribblets. When made up in dribblets, as they could, their best securities were at an interest of twelve per cent. Burke.

, to lake alcoholic liquors to excess; to be intemperate in the Pope. And they drank, and were merry with him. Gem. xliii. 34. Bolingbroke always spoke freely when he had drunk freely. Thackeray. To drink to, to salute in drinking; to wish well to, in the act of taking the cup; to pledge in drinking. I drink to the gen…

or ingredients; esp., to stupefy by a narcotic drug. Also Fig. The laboring masses . . . [were] drugged into brutish good humor by a vast system of public spectacles. C. Kingsley. Drug thy memories, lest thou learn it. Tennyson.

acle for dry articles. -- Dry wine, that in which the saccharine matter and fermentation were so exactly balanced, that they have wholly neutralized each other, and no sweetness is perceptible; -- opposed to sweet wine, in which the saccharine matter is in excess.

To doubt. [R.] If he . . . were to loiter dubitating, and not come. Carlyle.

, from Duck, v. t. & i. Ducking stool, a stool or chair in which common scolds were formerly tied, and plunged into water, as a punishment. See Cucking stool. The practice of ducking began in the latter part of the 15th century, and prevailed until the early part of the 18th, and occasionally as late as the 19th centur…

The root of the box tree, of which hafts for daggers were made. Gerarde (1597).

A leader; a chief; a prince. [Obs.] Hannibal, duke of Carthage. Sir T. Elyot. All were dukes once, who were "duces" -- captains or leaders of their people. Trench.