Chilled with terror, we concluded that the Deggial, with his exterminating angels, had sent forth their plagues on the earth.—W. Beckford, Vathek (1784).
Deird'ri, an ancient Irish story similar to the Dar-Thula of Ossian. Conor, king of Ulster, puts to death by treachery the three sons of Usnach. This leads to the desolating war against Ulster, which terminates in the total destruction of Eman. This is one of the three tragic stories of the Irish, which are: (1) The death of the children of Touran (regarding Tuatha de Danans); (2) the death of the children of Lear or Lir, turned into swans by Aoife; (3) the death of the children of Usnach (a "Milesian" story).
Dek'abrist, a Decembrist, from Dekaber, the Russian for December. It denotes those persons who suffered death or captivity for the part they took in the military conspiracy which broke out in St. Petersburg in December, 1825, on the accession of Czar Nicholas to the throne.
Dela'da, the tooth of Buddah, preserved in the Malegawa temple at Kandy. The natives guard it with the greatest jealousy, from a belief that whoever possesses it acquires the right to govern Ceylon. When the English (in 1815) obtained possession of this palladium, the natives submitted without resistance.
Delaserre (Captain Philip), a friend of Harry Bertram.—Sir W. Scott, Guy Mannering (time, George II.).
De'lia, Diana; so called from the island Delos, where she was born. Similarly, Apollo was called Delius. Milton says that Eve, e'en
Delia's self,
In gait surpassed and goddess-like deport,
Though not as she with bow and quiver armed.
Paradise Lost, ix. 338, etc. (1665).