DIS 2 



the curve, frequently referred to in de- 

 monstrating the properties of the conic 

 -A 



sections in planes. (2.) The line or plane 

 along which another line or plane is sup- 

 posed to move in the generation of a 

 surface or solid, called also the dirigent. 



DISABILITY. In law, a state which ren- 

 ders a person ineligible as a holder of 

 certain legal benefits. 



Disc, or DISK, Lat. discus. 1. The face 

 of the sun or moon as either appears to a 



spectator on the earth. 2. The width 



of the aperture of a telescope. 3. In 



botany, the central florets of a compound 



flower ; the whole surface of a leaf. 



4. In conchology, the middle part of a 

 valve, or that part which lies between 

 the umbo and the margin ; the convex 

 centre of a valve or most prominent part, 

 supposing it to lay with its inside under- 

 most. 



DISCHARGER. In electricity, an instru- 

 ment for discharging a jar or battery. 

 The handle is glass, and the other parts 

 brass. The common forms are the 



UNIVERSAL DISCHARGER. 



The single discharger is called also a dis- 

 charging rod. 



DIS'CIFORM, Lat. disci formis, resembling 

 a disk or quoit in shape. 



DISCLAIMER. Inlaw, a plea containing 

 an express denial. 



DISCONTIN'TANCE. In law, an injury to 

 real property, of which the rightful owner 

 is kept out "by a tenant whoge entry at 

 nrst was lawful, but who wrongfully re- 

 tains the possession. 



a DIS 



DIS'CORD. In music, an interval whose 

 extremes do not coalesce : opposed to 

 concord. The second, fourth, and seventh, 

 with their octaves, are instances. 



DIS'COCNT, Fr. discompte, from dear dis, 

 and compte. An allowance paid for the 

 advance of money not due till a future 

 period. It is of two kinds: discount of 

 bills, and discount of goods. When a bill 

 of exchange is presented to a banker for 

 discount, he calculates the simple interest 

 for the time which the bill has to run, 

 and deducts it; this is called the discount. 

 Again, a merchant who allows three 

 months' credit, will deduct a certain rate 

 per cent, for payment in hand ; and this 

 sum is called the discount, and sometimes 

 the rebate. 



DISCO'VERY. In law, the act of revealing 

 or disclosing any matter by a defendant 

 in his answer to a bill in Chancery. 



DISCRETE', Lat. discretus, separate or 

 distinct. D. proportion is that in which 

 the ratio between two or more pairs of 

 numbers is the same, and still the pro- 

 portion not continued : called also disjunct 

 proportion. The proportion 3 : 6 : : 5 : 10 

 is an example. A discrete quantity is one 

 which is not continued and joined. Such, 

 is a number whose parts being distinct 

 units cannot be united into one conti- 

 nuance. 



DIS'CRETIVE (see DISCRETE), disjunctive. 

 A discretive proposition is one which ex- 

 presses some distinction, opposition, or 

 variety, by means of but, though, yet, &c. 



Dis'cus (Lat.), a quoit. A piece of iron, 

 copper, or stone, of an oval form, five or 

 six fingers broad, and about a foot long, 

 hurled in the manner of a bowl by the 

 help of a thong passing through a hole in 

 the middle, and fastened to the person's 

 hand who threw it. 



DISDIAPA'SON. In music, two octaves, 

 or a fifteenth. 



DISINFECTINO LIQUOR is a solution of 

 chloride of soda, or of chloride of lime. 



DISINTEGRATION, from dis and integer, 

 separation of the integrant parts of a 

 substance, as distinguished from decom- 

 position, or the separation of constituent 

 parts. 



DISJUNCTIVE (see DISJUNCT). Inyram- 

 mar, a disjunctive conjunction is a word 

 which joins sentences, but disjoins the 

 sense, as or, nor, but, &c. In logic, a dis- 

 junctive proposition is one in which the 

 parts are opposed to each other by means 

 of disjunctives. A disjunctive syllogism is 

 one in which the major proposition is 

 disjunctive, as the earth moves in a circle 

 or an ellipsis; but it does not move in a 

 circle, therefore it moves in an ellipse. 



DISLOCATION, from dis, and locus, a 

 place. In surgery, the displacement of the 

 articular extremity of a bone : called also 

 a luxation. In yeoiogy, the displacement. 



