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to transgress the commands of (one in authority); to violate, as an order; as, refractory children disobey their parents; men disobey their Maker and the laws. Not to disobey her lord's behest. Tennyson.

Agitation from violent emotions; perturbation of mind; despair. The distraction of the children, who saw both their parents together, would have melted the hardest heart. Tatler.

ng among several or many; apportionment; as, the distribution of an estate among heirs or children. The phenomena of geological distribution are exactly analogous to those of geography. A. R. Wallace.

dge, one who presides over a district court. -- District school, a public school for the children within a school district. [U.S.]

, or study; to cause to have lively and agreeable sensations; to amuse; to entertain; as, children are diverted with sports; men are diverted with works of wit and humor. We are amused by a tale, diverted by a comedy. C. J. Smith.

Willingness to be taught; tractableness. The humble docility of little children is, in the New Testament, represented as a necessary preparative to the reception of the Christian faith. Beattie.

; inebriety; -- used of the casual state or the habit. The Lacedemonians trained up their children to hate drunkenness by bringing a drunken man into their company. I. Watts.

To make womanish; to make soft and delicate; to weaken. It will not corrupt or effeminate children's minds. Locke.

ural of many nouns, as in ashen, eyen, oxen, all obs. except oxen. In some cases, such as children and brethren, it has been added to older plural forms.

k with incisions. Like . . . . a signet thou engrave the two stones with the names of the children of Israel. Ex. xxviii. 11.

as something desirable; as, to enjoy a free constitution and religious liberty. That the children of Israel may enjoy every man the inheritance of his fathers. Num. xxxvi. 8. To enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season. Heb. xi. 25.

dinavian mythology, of a spirit natural power supposed to work mischief and ruin, esp. to children.

variety of bandy leg, associated with partial dislocation of the tibia, produced in young children by working in factories.

ty to one's promises, or allegiance to duty, or to a person honored and beloved; loyalty. Children in whom is no faith. Deut. xxvii. 20. Whose failing, while her faith to me remains, I should conceal. Milton.

ons who live in one house, and under one head or manager; a household, including parents, children, and servants, and, as the case may be, lodgers or boarders.

mpression. I have always had a fancy that learning might be made a play and recreation to children. Locke.

To be anxious or solicitous for. [R.] The sins of the father are to be laid upon the children, therefore . . . I fear you. Shak.

Fruitful in children; prolific. Graunt.

A flat piece of wood, used for striking, children, esp. on the hand, in punishment.

A straw, wire, stick, etc., used chiefly to point out letters to children when learning to read. "Pedantic fescue.' Sterne. To come under the fescue of an imprimatur. Milton.