Search the Dictionary

To represent by drawing; to draw a plan of; to delineate; to trace or mark out; as, to describe a circle by the compasses; a torch waved about the head in such a way as to describe a circle.

The act of describing; a delineation by marks or signs.

To mark out and exhibit; to designate; to indicate; to show; to point out; to appoint. We shall see Justice design the victor's chivalry. Shak. Meet me to-morrow where the master And this fraternity shall design. Beau. & Fl.

Capable of being designated or distinctly marked out; distinguishable. Boyle.

To mark out and make known; to point out; to name; to indicate; to show; to distinguish by marks or description; to specify; as, to designate the boundaries of a country; to designate the rioters who are to be arrested.

That which designates; a distinguishing mark or name; distinctive title; appellation. The usual designation of the days of the week. Whewell.

One who designs, marks out, or plans; a contriver.

ravage; as, a fire desolates a city. Constructed in the very heart of a desolating war. Sparks.

Loss of hope; utter hopelessness; complete despondency. We in dark dreams are tossing to and fro, Pine with regret, or sicken with despair. Keble. Before he [Bunyan] was ten, his sports were interrupted by fits of remorse and despair. Macaulay.

To scatter; to disparkle. [Obs.] Mandeville.

Extreme, in a bad sense; outrageous; -- used to mark the extreme predominance of a bad quality. A desperate offendress against nature. Shak. The most desperate of reprobates. Macaulay.

Marked by despondence; given to despondence; low-spirited; as, a despondent manner; a despondent prisoner. -- De*spond"ent*ly, adv.

osed powers which preside over human life, and determine its circumstances and duration. Marked by the Destinies to be avoided. Shak.

f course; by the way; as a digression; not connected with the subject; as, a desultory remark.

To remove darkness from. [Obs.] Ash.

A mark or attribute, attached to the subject or predicate, narrowing the extent of both, but rendering them more definite and precise. Abp. Thomson.

To fix the boundaries of; to mark off and separate. [God] hath determined the times before appointed. Acts xvii. 26.

Decided; resolute. "Adetermined foe."" Sparks.

oints, and nearly meeting, for the purpose of exploding gaseous mixtures by an electric spark, as in gas analysis, etc.

Conduct suitable to the devil; extreme wickedness; deviltry. Stark lies and devilry. Sir T. More.