Duty, dū′ti, n. that which is due: what one is bound by any obligation to do: obedience: military service: respect or regard: one's proper business: tax on goods.—adj. Dū′teous, devoted to duty: obedient.—adv. Dū′teously.—n. Dū′teousness.—adjs. Dū′tiable, subject to custom duty; Dū′tied, subjected to duties and customs; Dū′tiful, attentive to duty: respectful: expressive of a sense of duty.—adv. Dū′tifully.—n. Dū′tifulness.—adj. Dū′ty-free, free from tax or duty. [Formed from Anglo-Fr. deu or due (mod. Fr. dú) and suffix -ty. See Due (1).]
Duumvirate, dū-um′vi-rāt, n. the union of two men in the same office: a form of government in ancient Rome.—n. Dūum′vir, one of two associated in the same office.—adj. Dūum′viral. [L. duo, two, and vir, a man.]
Duvet, dü-vā′, n. a quilt stuffed with eider-down or swan's-down. [Fr.]
Dux, duks, n. a leader: the head boy in a school or class. [L., a leader.]
Dwale, dwāl, n. (bot.) deadly nightshade: a stupefying drink: (her.) a black colour. [Ice. dvöl, dvali, delay, sleep.]
Dwale, dwāl, n. (obs.) error: a heretic.—adj. perverse. [A.S. dwala, error.]
Dwalm, Dwaum, dwäm, n. (Scot.) a swoon, a sudden sickness.—v.i. to fail in health. [A.S. dwolma, confusion.]
Dwarf, dwawrf, n. an animal or plant that does not reach the ordinary height: a diminutive man.—v.t. to hinder from growing: to make to appear small.—adjs. Dwarf′ish, Dwarf, like a dwarf: very small: despicable.—adv. Dwarf′ishly.—n. Dwarf′ishness.—Dwarfed trees, small trees growing in flower-pots, a characteristic ornament in Chinese and Japanese houses and gardens. [A.S. dweorg; Dut. dwerg, Ice. dvergr, Ger. zwerg.]
Dwell, dwel, v.i. to abide in a place: to remain: to rest the attention: to continue long.—v.t. (Milt.) to inhabit, to place:—pr.p. dwell′ing; pa.t. and pa.p. dwelled or dwelt.—ns. Dwell′er; Dwell′ing, the place where one dwells: habitation: continuance; Dwell′ing-house, a house used as a dwelling, in distinction from a place of business or other building; Dwell′ing-place, a place of residence. [A.S. dwellan, to cause to wander, to delay, from dwal or dol, the original of Eng. dull.]
Dwindle, dwin′dl, v.i. to grow less: to waste away: to grow feeble: to become degenerate.—v.t. to lessen.—n. decline.—n. Dwin′dlement. [Dim. of Dwine.]