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Of or pertaining to dioptrics; assisting vision by means of the refraction of light; refractive; as, the dioptric system; a dioptric glass or telescope. "Dioptrical principles." Nichol. Dioptric curve (Geom.), a Cartesian oval. See under Cartesian.

The science of the refraction of light; that part of geometrical optics which treats of the laws of the refraction of light in passing from one medium into another, or through different mediums, as air, water, or glass, and esp. through different lenses; -- distinguished from catoptrics, which refers to reflected light…

ng. By a combination of transparent and opaque painting, and of transmitted and reflected light, and by contrivances such as screens and shutters, much diversity of scenic effect is produced.

To enter slightly or cursorily; to engage one's self desultorily or by the way; to partake limitedly; -- followed by in or into. "Dipped into a multitude of books." Macaulay.

The emission and diffusion of rays of light.

to set right. To undeceive and disabuse the people. South. If men are now sufficiently enlightened to disabuse themselves or artifice, hypocrisy, and superstition, they will consider this event as an era in their history. J. Adams.

or suddenly; to vanish; to be no longer seen; as, darkness disappears at the approach of light; a ship disappears as she sails from port.

ellar influences; unpropitious; ill-boding. [Obs.] The moon In dim eclipse, disastrous twilight sheds. Milton.

To lay open or expose to view; to cause to appear; to bring to light; to reveal. How softly on the Spanish shore she plays, Disclosing rock, and slope, and forest brown! Byron. Her lively looks a sprightly mind disclose. Pope.

The act of disclosing, uncovering, or revealing; bringing to light; exposure. He feels it [his secret] beating at his heart, rising to his throat, and demanding disclosure. D. Webster.

as, in judging of evidence, we should be careful to discriminate between probability and slight presumption.

ng; digressive; desultory. "Discursive notices." De Quincey. The power he [Shakespeare] delights to show is not intense, but discursive. Hazlitt. A man rather tacit than discursive. Carlyle.

dy. To disengage him and the kingdom, great sums were to be borrowed. Milton. Caloric and light must be disengaged during the process. Transl. of Lavoisier.

or the state of being disengaged. It is easy to render this disengagement of caloric and light evident to the senses. Transl. of Lavoisier. A disengagement from earthly trammels. Sir W. Jones.

To release from espousal or plighted faith. [Poetic] Milton.

To feel an absence of esteem for; to regard with disfavor or slight contempt; to slight. But if this sacred gift you disesteem. Denham. Qualities which society does not disesteem. Ld. Lytton.

The state of being disinclined; want of propensity, desire, or affection; slight aversion or dislike; indisposition. Disappointment gave him a disinclination to the fair sex. Arbuthnot. Having a disinclination to books or business. Guardian.

To incline away the affections of; to excite a slight aversion in; to indispose; to make unwilling; to alienate. Careful . . . to disincline them from any reverence or affection to the Queen. Clarendon. To social scenes by nature disinclined. Cowper.

To go from a place of rest. [R.] Where Light and Darkness in perpetual round Lodge and dislodge by turns. Milton.

To alight from a horse; to descend or get off, as a rider from his beast; as, the troops dismounted.