Desmid, des′mid, n. one of a group of microscopic algæ. [Formed as a dim. of Gr. desmos, a chain.]
Desmine, des′min, n. a zeolitic mineral occurring in clusters. [Gr. desmos, a band.]
Desmodium, des-mō′di-um, n. a genus of leguminous plants to which the D. gyrans, or telegraph plant, belongs. [Gr. desmos, chain, eidos, form.]
Desmoid, des′moid, adj. arranged in bundles. [Gr. desmos, a chain, a bundle, and eidos, form.]
Desmology, des-mol′o-ji, n. the anatomy of the ligaments.—ns. Desmog′raphy, the description of these; Desmot′omy, their dissection. [Gr. desmos, a ligament, and logia, a discourse.]
Desolate, des′o-lāt, v.t. to make solitary: to deprive of inhabitants: to lay waste.—adj. solitary: destitute of inhabitants: laid waste.—adv. Des′olately.—ns. Des′olateness; Desolat′er, -or; Desolā′tion, waste: destruction: a place desolated.—adj. Des′olatory. [L. desolāre, -ātum—de, inten., and solāre, to make alone—solus, alone.]
Despair, de-spār′, v.i. to be without hope: to despond.—n. want of hope: utter hopelessness: that which causes despair.—adj. Despair′ful (Spens.).—p.adj. Despair′ing, apt to despair: full of despair.—adv. Despair′ingly. [O. Fr. desperer—L. desperāre, -ātum—de, neg., and sperāre, to hope.]
Despatch, de-spach′, Dispatch, dis-pach′, v.t. to send away hastily: to send out of the world: to put to death: to dispose of: to perform speedily.—v.i. (Shak.) to make haste.—n. a sending away in haste: dismissal: rapid performance: haste: the sending off of the mails: that which is despatched, as a message, esp. telegraphic.—ns. Despatch′-boat, a government vessel for carrying despatches; Despatch′-box, a box for containing official despatches; Despatch′er.—adv. Despatch′ful (Milt.), swift.—Happy despatch, a playful name given to the Japanese hara-kiri or judicial suicide; Pneumatic despatch (see Pneumatic). [O. Fr. despeecher (mod. Fr. dépêcher); acc. to Littré, from an assumed Low L. despedicāre, to remove obstacles (pedica, a fetter), the opp. of impedicāre. See Impeach.]
Desperado, des-pėr-ā′dō, n. a desperate fellow: one reckless of danger: a madman:—pl. Desperā′dos. [Sp. desesperado—L. desperātus.]
Desperate, des′pėr-āt, adj. in a state of despair: hopeless: beyond hope: fearless of danger: rash: furious.—adv. Des′perately.—ns. Des′perateness, Desperā′tion, state of despair: disregard of danger: fury. [See Despair.]