DISPUTE. To contend in argument; to reason or argue in opposition. —Webster.
The two Senior classes shall dispute once or twice a week before the President, a Professor, or the Tutor.—Laws Yale Coll., 1837, p. 15.
DIVINITY. A member of a theological school is often familiarly called a Divinity, abbreviated for a Divinity student.
One of the young Divinities passed
Straight through the College yard.
Childe Harvard, p. 40.
DIVISION. At the University of Cambridge, Eng., each of the three terms is divided into two parts. Division is the time when this partition is made.
After "division" in the Michaelmas and Lent terms, a student, who can assign a good plea for absence to the college authorities, may go down and take holiday for the rest of the time.—Bristed's Five Years in an Eng. Univ., Ed. 2d, p. 63.
DOCTOR. One who has passed all the degrees of a faculty, and is empowered to practise and teach it; as, a doctor in divinity, in physic, in law; or, according to modern usage, a person who has received the highest degree in a faculty. The degree of doctor is conferred by universities and colleges, as an honorary mark of literary distinction. It is also conferred on physicians as a professional degree.—Webster.
DOCTORATE. The degree of a doctor.—Webster.
The first diploma for a doctorate in divinity given in America was presented under the seal of Harvard College to Mr. Increase Mather, the President of that institution, in the year 1692.—Peirce's Hist. Harv. Univ., App., p. 68.
DODGE. A trick; an artifice or stratagem for the purpose of deception. Used often with come; as, "to come a dodge over him."