dicacity 
Satiricalness ; sauciness; portness. 
m 
1 .'M \r 
Swallow Sun-hml (Picttitm hiritndi- 
Cocki-ram, 
l.ueilius . . . hail u scornful name given him by the mili- 
tary rficm'iVw of liis . n company. 
Bp. Uacket, Abp. Williams, II. 133. 
This gave- a sort of petulant dicacity to his repartee*. 
Qrawt, Spiritual (Juixote, I. 8. 
Dicaeids (di-so'i-de), n.pl, [NL., < Dictciim + 
-iiln:\ An artificial family of oscine passorino 
liinls, named from the genus Ilii'inim, usually 
merged ill \cctni-iiiiiilit'. It includes, ac-cc.rding to 
sunn- anilines. I!) L.'<-ri'-i'a <tf rbirlly Indian, Australian. and 
I'l'lyneslan birds, resembling the sun-binls in many re- 
SIM'rts. 
dicaeology (di-se-oro-ji),n. [< LL. dicreologia, 
< Gr. iiKatotoyia, a plea in defense, < <S/a/of, 
right, just, neut. rd oUaiov, a right, a just claim 
(< A'mn, justice), + -Aoyia, < feyeiv, speak : see 
-"'".'/#] In rhct., a mode of defense by which 
the accused admits the act charged as stated, 
but seeks to justify it as lawful, or by pleading 
mitigating cir- 
cumstances. 
Dicseum(di-se'- 
um), n. [NL. 
(Cuvier,1817).] 
An extensive 
genus of Indi- 
an and East In- 
dian tenuiros- 
tral passerine 
birds, of the 
family Nectari- 
niidte and sub- 
family Drcpa- 
nintK ; a group 
of small sun- 
birds, having a 
slender, acute, 
arcuate bill, 
the tarsi short, 
and the plu- 
mage more or 
less red. D. 
tiirttndfiMtctum of Australia has a relatively broad and 
flattened beak, like a swallow's (whence the name), and is 
the type of a submenus Microchelidon. It was formerly 
called tile /timllow-warbler. Also written Diceum. Strick- 
land, 1843. 
dicarbonate (di-kar'bo-nat), n. [< ftt-2 + car- 
/ioimfcl.1 In client., same as bicarbonate. 
dicarpellary (di-kar'pe-la-ri), a. [< di-2 + car- 
in'l(l) + -art/ 1 .] In bot.,' composed of two car- 
pels. 
dicast (di'kast), n. [< Gr. itKaarfa, a judg^e (in 
Athens rather a juryman, the presiding judge 
being 6 tcp/rfc: see critic), < itnafetv, judge, 
< Aiiai, justice.] In ancient Athens, one of 
6,000 citizens who were chosen by lot an- 
nually to sit as judges, in greater or less num- 
ber according to the importance of the case, 
and whose functions corresponded to those of 
the modern juryman and judge combined. The 
6,000 diuasts were divided hy lot Into 10 sections of 600 
eaeh, with a supplementary section of 1,000, from which 
iuviikntal detirirncies or absences were supplied. The 
flections were assigned from time to time to the different 
courts ; and. according to the character of the case to be 
tried, a single section sat, or two or more sections toge- 
ther, or u fract iomil part of a section. In cases pertaining 
to religion or military matters, etc., trial was sometimes 
lud before a selected panel of dicasts (a special or struck 
jury), who sat as exports. In cases of importance one of the 
thesmothetes served as president of the court. Also dUcatt. 
dicastery (di-kas'te-ri), n. [< Gr. iiKaarfaiov. 
a court of justice, < fina^eiv , judge : see dicast.] 
In Gr. antiq., a court of justice; especially, in 
Athens, one of the courts in which dicasts sat ; 
hence, the court or body of dicasts themselves. 
Tin' dk-astery differed from the modern jury in that the 
former may be regarded as the whole body of citizens rep- 
ivs( uted by u numerous section sitting in judgment, while 
the jury is a group of peers, originally also friends or ac- 
quaintances, of the parties concerned. 
dicatalectic (dl-kat-a-lek'tik), n. [< Gr. ttKara- 
).j/KTof (Hephrestion),"< Si-, two-, double, + itara- 
A;/.TOf,catalectic, < KaraMiytiv, leave off: see cata- 
lectir.] In pros., characterized by double cata- 
lexis, both interior and final ; having an incom- 
plete foot both in the middle and at the end. 
The dactylic pentameter is an example of a dicat.-ilo-ti.- 
line, the third and the last foot both being incomplete : 
1599 
(Us, dffn, pi. of dee, die: see die 3 .] 1. The 
plural of die'- 1 . 2. A game with dice. See die 3 . 
dice (dis), p. ; pret. and pp. diced, ppr. dicing. 
[< ME. dyccn, play with dice, also cut into 
cubes or squares, < dyce, dys, dice: see dice, .] 
1. intran-s. To play with dice. 
Againe they dice as fast, the poorest rogues of all 
U ill sit them downe in open field, and there to gaming 
fall. llakluyft Voyages, I. 888. 
I ... dicrd not above seven times a week. 
.VAo*., 1 Hen. IV., III. S. 
U. trans, 1. To cut into cubes or squares. 
2. To sew a kind of waved pattern on (the bor- 
der of a garment). 3. To decorate with a pat- 
tern (especially a woven one) resembling cubes 
seen diagonally that is, with hexagons so 
shaded by the run of the thread as to resemble 
cubes so placed; less properly, to weave with 
a pattern of squares or lozenges touching one 
another. To dice away, to lose at dice ; gamble away. 
(Rare.) 
An unthrift, that will dice meat/ his skin, 
Rather than want to stake at ordinaries. 
Shirley, The Wedding, v. 2. 
dice-box (dis'boks), n. 1. A box from which 
dice are thrown in gaming, usually in the form 
of a cylinder contracted in the middle. 
The common method of throwing the dice Is with a hol- 
low cylinder of wood, called the dice-box, into which they 
are put, and thence, lieing first shaken together, thrown 
out upon the table, strait. Sports and Pastimes, p. 403. 
2. A species of insulator for telegraph-wires, 
shaped like a box for throwing dice, along the 
axis of which the wire is carried. 
dice-coal (dis'kol), n. In coal-mining, certain 
layers of coal which break readily into small 
cubical fragments resembling dice in form. 
[Leicestershire, Eiig.] 
dkellate (di-sel'at), a. [< Gr. dintf^a, a two- 
pronged hoe (< <!(-, two-, + KfMciv, drive, urge), 
+ -afc'l.] Two-pronged, as a sponge-spicule. 
Dicentra (di-sen'tra), n. [NL., < Gr. itKevrpoc, 
with two stings or points, < it-, two-, + ntvrpov, 
a point, sting, spur: see center^.] A genus of 
delicate perennial herbs, of the natural order 
Fumariacece, of about a dozen species, natives 
of North America and eastern and central 
Asia. The species have glaucous dissected leaves and a 
heart-shaped or two-spurred corolla. The squirrel-corn, 
Dichitonida 
See ratalectic and procatal' l >-ti,-. 
dicatalexis (dl-kat-a-lek'sis), n. [NL. ( cf. LGr. 
ftmra).i/s<a Marius Victorinus), < Gr. &-, two-, 
double, + Kani/i/sif, oatalexis: see catalexis.] 
In pro*., concurrence of interior and final cata- 
lo.xis ; incompleteness of both a middle and a 
final foot ill a Hue. 
dice (dis), n. i,l, [< ME. dice, di/cc (sometimes 
in double pi. dyccs), irreg. spelling of dijse, dcys, 
Bleeding-heart , Ditrntr., iffclaiilu). 
D. Canadensi*, and Dutchman 's-breeches. D. Cucullaria, 
are common species of the northern United States. The 
bleeding-heart, D. ftptetalrilis, a very ornamental species 
from northern China, is frequent in gardens. Also called 
IHfli/tnt. 
dicephalous (dl-sef a-lus), a. [< Gr. rfce>a>lof, 
two-headed, < A-, two-, + KCIJXI^. head.] Hav- 
ing two heads on one body; bicapitate. 
dice-playt (dls'pla), n. The game of dice. 
Dirt-play, and such other foolish and pernicious games, 
they know not. Sir T. More, Utopia (tr. by Robinson), li. 4. 
dice-player (dis'pla'er), n. [< ME. diceplayer; 
< 'lire + player.] One who plays at dice; a 
dicer. 
dicer (di'ser), . [< ME. dyser, dtjsar, < dys, 
dice: see dice, .] One who plays at dice; a 
gamester. 
As false as dicen" oaths. Shale., Hamlet, ill. 4. 
Diceras (dis'e-ras), n. [NL., < Gr. i'tKcpas, a dou- 
ble horn: see diccrwu.] 1. A genus of dimy- 
arian bivalves, having subi><|iial valves with 
spirally prolonged umbones and a very thick 
hinge, with prominent teeth, two in one valve 
and one in the other, occurring in the OSlite, 
Right and Left Valves of Diceras ari 
a, a, adductor ioipreuions. 
and referred to the family Chamida:: named 
from the pair of beaks twisted like a ram's 
horns. Lamarck, 1805. 2. A genus of worms. 
Rndolphi, 1810. 
dicerion (di-ser'i-on), n. [MGr. imtpiov, < Gr. 
tiittpo<;, two-horned (Mxepaf, a double horn), < 
rfi-, two-, + lifpaf, a horn.] A candlestick with 
two lights, representing the two natures of 
Christ, used by the Greek bishops in blessing 
the people. See tricerion. 
dicerous (dis'e-ms). a. [NL., < Gr. iinepuf (ime- 
PUT-, itKtpv-), also oinrpaf (Aintpar-), two-horned 
(cf. Dicrurus), < it-, two-, + ntpof, horn. Cf. W- 
corn.] In entom., having a pair of developed 
antenna*. 
dicht. A corrupt form found only in the follow- 
ing passage, usually explained as standing for 
<f it (do it). 
Much good dick thy good heart, Apemantns. 
Shak., T. of A., L 2. 
Dichatae (di-ke'te), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. it-, two-, 
+ NL. cltceta, q. v.] A division of brachycerous 
dipterous insects, containing those two-winged 
flies which have the proboscis or sucker com- 
posed of two pieces. It contains the family 
Muscida; and others. The common house-fly 
is an example. 
The number of pieces composing the haustellum varies 
two, four, or six ; and on this character Macquart has 
founded his arrangement, naming his divisions Dichcetce, 
Tetrachicta.', and Ilexaehactir, respectively. 
1'axcne, 7,o6l. Class., p. 123. 
dichaetons (di-ke'tus), a. [As Dichcette + 
-ous.~\ Pertaining to or having the characters 
of the Dieha-tte. 
dichas (di'kas), n. [Gr. <5^of (A^arf-), the half, 
< 6ixa, in two, < A'j ((!<-), twice: see rfi-2.] A 
half foot in ancient Greek long measure. The 
Attic measure is supposed to have been 5.84 inches, the 
late Egyptian (1'hileUerian) 7 Inches, English measure. 
dichasia, . Plural of dicltasium. 
dichasial (di-ka'si-al), a. [< dichaxittm + -al.] 
In bot., pertaining to or resembling a dicha- 
sium. 
The dichajtial form of Inflorescence. 
Eneyc. Brit., IV. 124. 
dichasium (dl-ka'si-utn), ii. ; pi. dichaitia (-S). 
[NL., < Gr. <!(^n<r(c, division : see dichastasis.] 
In bot., a cyme having two main axes. 
dichastasis (di-kas'ta-sis), n. [NL., improp. 
for "dichasis, < Gr. 'iixaoic., division, half, < 
StXaetv, tixa&tv, divide, < cJ/^-a, in two, < A'c (At-), 
twice: see di- 2 .] Spontaneous subdivision. 
Dana. 
dichastic (di-kas'tik), a. [< Gr. Mx a <"f, divi- 
sion; cf. dichastasig.] Capable of subdividing 
spontaneously. Imp. Diet. [Rare.] 
dichet, " and t-. A Middle English form of 
ditch. 
DichelesthiidaB (di'ke-les-thi'i-de), n. pi. [NL., 
< Dithelestliiiiin + -irfn-.] A family of sipho- 
nostomous parasitic crustaceans or fish-lice, 
typified by the genus Dichelesthium, having 
abortive limbs. Also written Dichelestiidte. 
Dichelesthium (di-ke-les'thi-um), n. [NL., < 
(T) Gr. dixi^-nf, also (!/;faAof, cloven-hoofed, orig. 
' two-parted ' (neut. Hxi^-ov, forceps ; < it-, two-, 
+ xn^hi a hoof, cloven hoof, claw, spur, forkeo! 
probe, notch, etc., orig. anything parted, < ^ 
*X" in xaivctv, gape, yawn, part), + codietv, eat.] 
Ditheleilhium tmrimu, 
The typical genus of fish-lice of the family 
DicheleitthiidtB. Also written Dichelfstium. Her- 
mann, 1804. 
Dichitonida (di-ki-ton'i-da), n. pi. [NL., < Gr. 
it-, two-, + ^(r<iv, tunic (chiton), + -ida.] A 
group of tunicaries, ascidians, or sea-squirts, 
equivalent to the order Ascidioida. 
