Dialogue, dī′a-log, n. conversation between two or more persons, esp. of a formal or imaginary nature.—v.i. and v.t. (Shak.) to put into dialogue form.—adjs. Dialog′ic, Dialogist′ic, -al (-loj-), in the form of a dialogue.—v.i. Dial′ogise (′oj-), to discourse in dialogue.—n. Dial′ogist (′oj-), a speaker in, or writer of, a dialogue. [Fr.,—L. dialogus—Gr. dialogos, a conversation—dialegesthai, to discourse.]
Dialuric, dī-a-lū′rik, adj. pertaining to alloxan and uric acid.—n. Dialū′rate, a salt of dialuric acid.
Dialysis, dī-al′i-sis, n. (chem.) the separation of substances by diffusion through a membranous septum or partition: diæresis: dissolution:—pl. Dial′yses.—adj. Dialys′able.—v.t. Dī′alyse, to separate by dialysis.—n. Dī′alyser.—adj. Dialyt′ic. [Gr. dialysis—dia, asunder, lyein, to loose.]
Diamagnetic, dī-a-mag-net′ik, adj. cross-magnetic—applied to any substance, such as a rod of bismuth or glass, which, when suspended between the poles of a magnet, arranges itself across the line joining the poles (a rod of iron or of sealing-wax so held arranges itself parallel to the line joining the poles, and is said to be Paramagnetic).—adv. Diamagnet′ically.—n. Diamag′netism, the form of magnetic action possessed by diamagnetic bodies: the branch of magnetism which deals with diamagnetic phenomena. [Gr. dia, through, magnētēs, magnēs, a magnet.]
Diamantiferous, dī-a-man-tif′er-us, adj. yielding diamonds. [Fr. diamantifère.]
Diamesogamous, dī-a-me-sog′a-mus, adj. (bot.) fertilised by intermediary means.
Diameter, dī-am′e-tėr, n. the measure through or across: a straight line passing through the centre of a circle or other figure, terminated at both ends by the circumference.—adjs. Diam′etral, Diamet′ric, -al, in the direction of a diameter: pertaining to the diameter: like the opposite ends of the diameter (as in diametrical opposition).—advs. Diam′etrally, in a diametral manner; Diamet′rically, exactly.—Tactical diameter, the space covered by a steamer in turning 180° out of her original course. [Through Fr. and L. from Gr. diametros—dia, through, metrein, to measure.]
Diamond, dī′a-mond, n. the most valuable of all gems, and the hardest of all substances: a four-sided figure with two obtuse and two acute angles: one of the four suits of cards: one of the smallest kinds of English printing type.—adj. resembling diamonds: made of diamonds: marked with diamonds: lozenge-shaped, rhombic.—ns. Dī′amond-bee′tle, a beautiful sparkling South American weevil; Dī′amond-cut′ting, diamond-setting; Dī′amond-drill, an annular borer whose bit is set with borts; Dī′amond-dust, Dī′amond-pow′der, the powder made by the friction of diamonds on one another in the course of polishing.—adjs. Dī′amonded, furnished with diamonds; Diamondif′erous, yielding diamonds.—n. Dī′amond-wheel, a wheel covered with diamond-dust and oil for polishing diamonds and other precious stones.—Diamond cut diamond, the case of an encounter between two very sharp persons.—Rough diamond, an uncut diamond: a person of great worth, though of rude exterior and unpolished manners. [M. E. adamaunt—O. Fr. adamant—L. adamanta, accus. of adamas—Gr. adamas, adamantos, adamant—a, not, damaein, to tame.]
Diana, di-ā′na, or dī-an′a, n. an ancient Italian goddess of light, the moon-goddess, representative of chastity and hunting, afterwards identified with the Greek Artemis.—Diana of the Ephesians, a goddess of fertility worshipped at Ephesus.
Diandria, dī-an′dri-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having two stamens.—n. Dian′der, a plant with two stamens.—adjs. Dian′drian, Dian′drous. [Gr. dis, twice, double, anēr, andros, a man.]