Search the Dictionary

An instrument for dividing lines, describing circles, etc., compasses. See Compasses.

minister of the gospel; a priest; a clergyman. The first divines of New England were surpassed by none in extensive erudition. J. Woodbridge.

a deliberative body, esp. of the Houses of Parliament, to ascertain the vote. The motion passed without a division. Macaulay.

visional surgeon of police. Divisional planes (Geol.), planes of separation between rock masses. They include joints.

rth one's best or most or most diligent efforts. "We will . . . do our best to gain their assent." Jowett (Thucyd.). -- To do one's business, to ruin one. [Colloq.] Wycherley. -- To do one shame, to cause one shame. [Obs.] -- To do over. (a) To make over; to perform a second time. (b) To cover; to spread; to smear. "…

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.]

A doctrinal notion asserted without regard to evidence or truth; an arbitrary dictum.

Asserting a thing positively and authoritatively; positive; magisterial; hence, arrogantly authoritative; overbearing. Critics write in a positive, dogmatic way. Spectator. [They] are as assertive and dogmatical as if they were omniscient. Glanvill. Dogmatic theology. Same as Dogmatics.

To assert positively; to teach magisterially or with bold and undue confidence; to advance with arrogance. The pride of dogmatizing schools. Blackmore.

One who dogmatizes; a bold asserter; a magisterial teacher. Hammond.

In Portugal and Brazil, the title given to a member of the higher classes.

a title in Spain, formerly given to noblemen and gentlemen only, but now common to all classes. Don is used in Italy, though not so much as in Spain France talks of Dom Calmet, England of Dom Calmet, England of Dan Lydgate. Oliphant.

f to another, without any consideration, as a free gift. Bouvier. Donation party, a party assembled at the house of some one, as of a clergyman, each one bringing some present. [U.S.] Bartlett.

To assess a tax upon, by estimate or at discretion. [New England] J. Pickering.

A brownish black native hydrocarbon occurring in elastic or jellylike masses.

animal; hence, not in action or exercise; quiescent; at rest; in abeyance; not disclosed, asserted, or insisted on; as, dormant passions; dormant claims or titles. It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people. Burke.

To question or hold questionable; to withhold assent to; to hesitate to believe, or to be inclined not to believe; to withhold confidence from; to distrust; as, I have heard the story, but I doubt the truth of it. To admire superior sense, and doubt their own! Pope. I doubt not that however changed, you keep So much of…

ubt; not obvious, clear, or certain; questionable; not decided; not easy to be defined, classed, or named; as, a doubtful case, hue, claim, title, species, and the like. Beauty is but a vain and doubtful good. Shak. Is it a great cruelty to expel from our abode the enemy of our peace, or even the doubtful friend [i. e.…

f a dowager; formality, as that of a dowager. Also used figuratively. Mansions that have passed away into dowagerism. Thackeray.

A ventilating shaft down which the air passes in circulating through a mine.