Dioscuri, di-os-kū′ri, n.pl. Castor and Pollux, as sons of Jupiter. [Gr. Dios, gen. of Zeus (Jupiter), and koros (Ion. kouros), a son, a lad.]
Diosmosis, dī-oz-mō′zis, n. the transfusion of a liquid through a membrane.—Also Dios′mose. [Gr. dia, through, ōsmos, a pushing—ōthein, to thrust.]
Diota, dī-ō′ta, n. a two-handled Roman vase.
Diothelism, dī-oth′e-lizm, n. the doctrine that Christ during His life on earth possessed two wills, a human and a divine—opp. to Monothelism—also Dyoth′elism.—n. Dioth′elite, one who holds this.
Dioxide, dī-oks′īd, n. an oxide containing two equivalents of oxygen to one of a metal. [Gr. di-, twice, and oxide.]
Dip, dip, v.t. to dive or plunge into any liquid for a moment: to lower and raise again (as a flag): to baptise by immersion.—v.i. to sink: to enter slightly: to look cursorily: to incline downwards:—pr.p. dip′ping; pa.p. dipped.—n. inclination downwards: a sloping: (geol.) the angle a stratum of rock makes with a horizontal plane: a bath: a candle made by dipping a wick in tallow.—Dip of the horizon, the angle of the horizon below the level of the eye; Dip of the needle, the angle a balanced magnetic needle makes with the plane of the horizon, measured by the Dipping needle, or Compass. [A.S. dyppan, causal of dýpan, to plunge in—deóp, deep; cf. Dan. dyppe; Ger. taufen, to immerse.]
Dipchick, dip′chik, n. Same as Dabchick.
Dipetalous, dī-pet′a-lus, adj. having two petals. [Gr. di-, twice, and petal.]
Diphtheria, dif-thē′ri-a, n. a throat disease in which the air-passages become covered and impeded with a leathery membrane, and a dangerous fever is present.—adj. Diphtherit′ic. [A coinage of 1859 from Gr. diphthera, leather.]
Diphthong, dif′thong, or dip′thong, n. two vowel-sounds pronounced as one syllable.—adj. Diphthong′al, relating to a diphthong.—adv. Diphthong′ally.—n. Diphthongā′tion.—v.t. Diph′thongise. [Through Fr. from Gr. diphthongos, with two sounds—di-, twice, phthongos, sound.]