Demit, de-mit′, v.t. to dismiss: to relinquish: to resign. [See Demise.]
Demiurge, dem′i-urj, n. the maker of the world: among the Gnostics, the creator of the world and of man, subordinate to God the supreme—also Demiur′gus.—adj. Demiur′gic. [Gr. dēmiourgos—dēmos, the people, and ergon, a work.]
Demi-volt, dem′i-volt, n. a half-turn of a horse, the forelegs being raised in the air. [Fr. demi-volte—demi, half, and volte, a leap. See Vault.]
Demi-wolf, dem′i-woolf, n. (Shak.) a half-wolf, the offspring of a dog and a wolf.
Demobilise, de-mob′il-īz, v.t. to take out of mobilisation: to disband.—n. Demobilisā′tion. [Fr.]
Democracy, de-mok′ra-si, n. a form of government in which the supreme power is vested in the people collectively, and is administered by them or by officers appointed by them: the people, esp. the common people in the United States, the democratic party—also Democ′raty (Milt.).—n. Dem′ocrat, one who adheres to or promotes democracy as a principle: a member of the democratic party in the United States, who preserve carefully the local liberties of states and of individuals, opposing national centralisation, and supporting a wide franchise, low tariff duties for the interests of the revenue rather than protection, and a limited public expenditure.—adjs. Democrat′ic, -al, relating to democracy: insisting on equal rights and privileges for all.—adv. Democrat′ically.—adj. Democratifī′able, capable of being made democratic.—v.t. Democratise′, to render democratic.—n. Democ′ratist, a democrat. [O. Fr.,—Gr. dēmokratia—dēmos, the people, and kratein, to rule—kratos, strength.]
Demogorgon, dē-mo-gor′gon, n. a mysterious deity or diabolical magician first mentioned about 450 A.D., and regarded as an object of terror. [Gr. daimōn, deity, gorgos, terrible.]
Demography, dē-mog′ra-fi, n. vital and social statistics, as applied to the study of nations and races.—n. Demog′rapher.—adj. Demograph′ic. [Gr. dēmos, the people, graphein, to write.]
Demoiselle, dem-wa-zel′, n. (Shak.) a young lady: a crane-like bird of peculiarly graceful form. [Fr. See Damsel.]
Demolish, de-mol′ish, v.t. to destroy, lay in ruins, to ruin.—n. Demoli′tion, act of pulling down: ruin. [Fr. démolir—L. demolīri, to throw down—de, down, and molīri, to build—moles, a heap.]