Search the Dictionary

Subdivision of business or official duty; especially, one of the principal divisions of executive government; as, the treasury department; the war department; also, in a university, one of the divisions of instructions; as, the medical department; the department of physics.

One who business it is so detect criminals or discover matters of secrecy.

tate of being devastated; a laying waste. Even now the devastation is begun, And half the business of destruction done. Goldsmith.

A form of phonographic recorder and reproducer adapted for use in dictation, as in business.

g a common tariff, allow one of their number to make, in order to get a fair share of the business. The lower rate is called a differential rate. Differentials are also sometimes granted to cities.

waste; impairing of church property by an incumbent, through neglect or by intention. The business of dilapidations came on between our bishop and the Archibishop of York. Strype.

ication to a subject or pursuit; assiduous; industrious. Seest thou a man diligent in his business he shall stand before kings. Prov. xxii. 29. Diligent cultivation of elegant literature. Prescott.

residences of the inhabitants of any place, or of classes of them; an address book; as, a business directory.

igation, responsibility, accusation, etc.; to absolve; to acquit; to clear. Discharged of business, void of strife. Dryden. In one man's fault discharge another man of his duty. L'Estrange.

te from the time of discounting until it become due. -- Discount broker, one who makes a business of discounting commercial paper; a bill broker. -- Discount day, a particular day of the week when a bank discounts bills. -- True discount, the interest which, added to a principal, will equal the face of a note when i…

gave him a disinclination to the fair sex. Arbuthnot. Having a disinclination to books or business. Guardian.

To dispose of speedily, as business; to execute quickly; to make a speedy end of; to finish; to perform. Ere we put ourselves in arms, dispatch we The business we have talked of. Shak. [The] harvest men . . . almost in one fair day dispatcheth all the harvest work. Robynson (More's Utopia).

Bent on haste; intent on speedy execution of business or any task; indicating haste; quick; as, dispatchful looks. Milton.

. More water . . . than can be disposed of. T. Burnet. I have disposed of her to a man of business. Tatler. A rural judge disposed of beauty's prize. Waller.

Fig.: To plunge or to go deeply into any subject, question, business, etc.; to penetrate; to explore. South.

Fig.: One who goes deeply into a subject, study, or business. "A diver into causes." Sir H. Wotton.

on, or object; as, the diversion of a stream from its channel; diversion of the mind from business.

To turn away from any occupation, business, 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.

orts. "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. "Boats . . . sewed together and done over wi…

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.]