Diodon 
fishes. <>l I In' suborder i!i/m>it>ilniili:n and order 
riii-lnijiiiitlii. Tin- jiiws are tippul with ivory. like 
rll.imel' inslea-1 of teeth; tills lieak is Illlllivilleil ill rarh 
jaw. MO that there appears to in- H tooth alwve unit another 
III lo\V, Wllenee t!ll> IlillllC. It. llf/ttfij:, of tilt! Eafit Illllillll 
;iii-l MniiU Aineriean foosts, i* an example. Like tin- 
other [rlohe il>hrs, it blown lUclf into a globular shape 
by swallowing air, Hint the hkin is beaet with spiny pro- 
cesses; henee it is, known as poreupine.-juh, sf.a-jn>fc{t- 
pine, ttea-kfitifehoij, anil prickly globe-Ji*h. (ft) [J. c.~] 
A species of the Ki'tiiiK liiitdon. 2. InorNt(A.,a 
genus of two-toothed falcons of South America : 
same' as liiitriix, IH/ilinlon, or llur/mi/un. {.ixx/m, 
1831. 3. lu mammal., a genus of cetaceans: 
same as Ziphlus. 4. In herpet., same as Ano- 
don, 2. 
Diodoninse (di*6-do-ni'ne), n. pi. [Nli., irreg. 
< Diodon, 1, + -iiue.] A subfamily of gymno- 
i In nl fishes: same as Diodontida;. 
diodont (di'6-dont), a. and n. I. a. Having two 
teeth; specifically, of or pertaining to the Dio- 
don tida. 
H. . A fish of the family Diodontida;. 
Diodontidae (di-o-don'ti-de), n. pi. [NL., < Dio- 
don( t-),l, + -idai.] A family of gymnodont plec- 
tognath fishes, named from the genus Diodoit, 
including all the known Diodontoidea. The body is 
covered with long spines often capable of erection, the belly 
is inflatable, and the dorsal and anal tins are small, poste- 
rior, and opposite. The sjHjcies are mostly inhabitants uf 
tropical seas, although a few extend northward and south- 
ward far into the temperate zones; they are generally 
known as ptn\-iiiiiiif.-Jitslieg and (jlobe-jinheii. 
Diodontinae (di'6-don-ti'ne), n. pi. [NL., < Dio- 
(tini(t-), 1, + 4MB.] A subfamily of gymnodont 
fishes, typified by the genus Diodon; the Dio- 
il'iiilnld' considered as a subfamily of Tetrao- 
dontidfe. 
diodontoid (di-o-don'toid), a. and n. I. a. Per- 
taining to or having the characters of the Dio- 
dontida or Diodontoidea. 
II. n. A diodont. 
Diodontoidea (di'o-don-toi'de-a), n. pi. [NL., 
< Diodon(t-), 1, ( -oidca.] "In Gill's system 
of classification, a superfamily of gymnodout 
plectognath fishes. The technical characters are : no 
pelvis; a normally developed caudal region; the inter- 
maxillary and dentary bones coo&sined into single suture- 
less arches, the supramaxillary portions extending later- 
ally behind ; the ethmoid retracted backward under the 
frontal ; and the postf rentals retracted inward to the sides 
of the supraocclpital and behind the frontals. 
Dicecia (di-e'shia), n. pi. [NL., neut. pi. of dioe- 
cious: see dioecious.} The twenty-second class 
of plants in the artificial system of I .i n turns. 
It comprehends such genera as have male or stamen-bear- 
ing flowers on one plant, and female or pistil-bearing 
flowers on another, as willows. 
dioecian, diecian (di-'shan), a. [As diaeci-ous 
+ -aw.] Same as dioecious. 
dioeciopolygamous (di-e'shio-po-lig'a-mus), a. 
In bot., polygamous with a tendency to dio3- 
ciousness, or to the prevalence of flowers of 
one sex upon individual plants. 
dioecious, diecious (di-e'shus), a. [< NL. dioe- 
cious, < Gr. di-, two-, + ojM>f, house.] 1. In hot., 
unisexual, the male and female flowers being 
borne on sep- 
arate plants, 
as in the wil- 
low, prickly 
ash, and 
hemp. 2. 
Having the 
flowers un- 
like on dif- 
ferentplants 
of the same 
species: used 
only with 
modifying 
prefixes, as 
androdia.'- 
cious, when the flowers on some plants are all 
male and on others all hermaphrodite (a hypo- 
thetical case), and Mntodtoofottf, when they are 
in like manner female and hermaphrodite. 3. 
InrooV., sexually distinct ; having the two sexes 
in different individuals : opposed to monoecious. 
Also diii'cinii. dioif, dioicous. 
dioeciously, dieciously (di-e'shus-li), adv. In 
a dioecious manner; with a tendency to dioe- 
ciousuess. 
Thr reproductive organs are distributed inontecinii-l\ 
or diaeeioutly. Saclu, Botany (trans.), p. 300. 
dioeciousness, dieciousness (di-e'shus-nes), . 
Tlio state or quality of being dioecious. Also 
dirt-ism. 
1627 Diophantine 
In many of the plant* of this division \Pttndofkyla\ dionym (di'o-nirn), . [< (ir. ilJrr/, with two 
there is a strong t.-nd.-m-y toward diu-noiuiu-u in tli naraeH> < ,(,.; ivf , t . t + ,,, /Oi a uame : Bee 
onym.] A name consisting of two terms; a 
binomial name in zodlogy, as tlomo sapiens. 
prothalliu, and in the higher genera it becomes the In- 
variable rule. Beitey, Botany, p. 302. 
dioecism (di-6'sizm), . [< di<ec(ious) + -ism.] 
Same as dweciouimess. 
Diogenes-crab (di-oj'e-nez-krab),n. [So called 
from its choosing a shell for its residence ; witli 
alluHion to the famous Cynic philosopher Dioge- 
nes, who, according to the tradition, chose to 
live in a tub. The name, Gr. bioyivrx, is prop. 
an adj., Aioj'fwjr, Zeus-born, < Zfi'f (Aio-), Zeus 
(see deity), + -yevtK, -born: see -gen.'] A West 
Indian hermit-crab of the genus Cenooita and 
family Paguridas. 
Diogenes-cup (di-oj'e-nez-kup), H. The cup- 
like cavity formed by the palm of the band, 
when the fingers are slightly bent, the little 
and third fingers being drawn over toward the 
thumb. 
Diogenic (di-o-jen'ik), a. [< Diogenes (see Dio- 
ijenex-crau) + -ie.] Of, pertaining to, or re- 
sembling Diogenes, a celebrated Greek phi- 
losopher of the Cynio school, who flourished in 
the fourth century B. c. See Cynic, n., 1. 
We omit the series of Socratic, or rather Diixjenic utter- 
ances, not unhappy in their way, whereby the monster, 
"penuaded into silence," seems soon after to have with- 
drawn for the night. Carlyle, Sartor Ueaartus, p. an. 
dioic, dioicous (di'oik, di-oi'kus), a. [< Gr. ft-, 
two-, + okof, a house ; same as dicec-i-ous, but 
imitating the Gr. spelling.] Same as dioecious. 
Diomedea (di'6-me-de'ft), . [NL., < Diomedes, 
Gr. &io/tr/<l7K, a famous hero at the siege of Troy, 
lit. Zeus-counseled, < Zcit (A<o-), Zeus, + /*7<>of, 
pi. ftr/faa, counsels.] The typical genus of 
the subfamily Diomcdeina; containing most of 
the albatrosses. D. exulans and D. brachyura 
are characteristic examples. See cut under 
albatross. 
Diomedeinae (di-6-me-de-i'ne), . j>l. [NL., < 
Diomedea + -iiue. 1 } A subfamily of birds, of the 
family Procellariidos, including the albatrosses. 
They are characterized by having the nind toe rudimentary 
and the nostrils disconnected from each other, one on each 
side of the base of the upper mandible. Diomedea. Is the 
typical genus, and others, as t'htxbftria, are recognized by 
some naturalists. See albatrow. 
Dion (di'on), n. See Dioon. 
Dionaea (di-o-ne'a), . [NL., fern. of L. Dionems, 
< Gr. Aiwwiof, pertaining to Dione, fern. A/u- 
valri, Aphrodite, < Adiw/, Dione, the mother of 
Aphrodite by Zeus, later applied to Aphrodite 
herself, < Zriif (A>-), Zeus: see Zeus, deity."] 1. 
A genus of plants, natural order Droseracece. 
Only one species is known, D. inetpuia(Vcnus'8 fly-trap), 
a native of the sandy savannas of the CaroUnas and Flor 
Dkeciuus Plants f Male and Ft male) of 
I'allisnfri.i spiraUi. 
irtniisHi .-- -elf sterility tlie prepotenev of pollen 
from another individual over a plant's own pollen. 
Uuruiin, Different Forms of flowers, p. ->;*. 
Venus' s Fly-trap (/hinurd mu 
( From Gray's " Genera of ihe Plants of the United State*.") 
Ida. It hat a rosette of root-leaves, from which rises a 
naked scai>c bearing a corymb of rather large white flowers. 
The leaves have a dilated petiole and a slightly stalked 
2-lobed lamina or appendage with three very delicate haii-s 
and a fringe of stout marginal bristles on each lobe. The 
hairs are remarkably irritable, and when touched by a fly 
or other insert the lobes of the leaf suddenly close on the 
insect and capture it. This is followed hy the eopious se- 
i-retionof an acid liquid for the digestion of the prey, ami 
by it- absorption. This may lie rejH-atcd several times by 
the same leaf. 
2. In eiitom., a genus of dipterous insects. Des- 
coidy, 1830. Also Dionea. 
dionymal (di-on'i-inal), a. [As dionym + -al.] 
Of or pertaining to a dionym; binomial; bi- 
nominal. 
The binomial (or dioimmat) system. 
J. A. AUm, The Auk, I. 362. 
Dionysia (di-o-nis'i-ii), n.pl. [L., < Gr. Atowoia 
(sc. tepd, offerings), neut. pi. of Atavitoiof, pertain- 
ing to Dionysus: see Itiotiysus.] In classical 
antiij., the orgiastic and dramatic festivals cele- 
brated periodically in various parts of Greece, 
in honor of Dionysus or Bacchus. The most Im- 
portant of these festivals, in the historic period, were 
those of Attica, which were four In number, celebrated 
annually : the Rural or Ltumer Itinnyitia, the I^enaia, the 
Anthesteria, and the Dionyria in the City, or (Jrrater Dio- 
nysia. the Lesser Dionyski were a vintage-festival, cele- 
brated through the rural denies in the month of Poeeldeon 
(December), with universal merriment and freedom from 
restraint, extended even to slaves. Plays were performed 
during this festival, and from its characteristic songs and 
Jests comedy was developed. The Greater Dlonysla were ob- 
served at Athens in the second half of M arch, with a grand 
procession, a set chorus of boys, and the production In 
competition at the expense of the state, in the Dionysiac 
theater, in honor of the god, of the comedies and tragedies 
of which those surviving constitute our most precious 
treasures of ancient literature. See Baethun, Leiiaia, 
Anthtjteria, ehoraffie, and churaijta. 
Dionysiac (di-o-nis'i-ak), a. [< L. Dionysia- 
cus, < Gr. AawwHoicor, < Amw/a, Diouysia: see 
Ditmysia, Dionysus.] In Gr. myth., of or per- 
taining to the festivals called Dionysia, in hon- 
or of Dionysus or Bacchus, the god of wine ; 
Bacchic. 
It [the Bacchic] Is a magnificent play, alone among ex- 
tant Greek tragedies In picturesque splendour, and In 
that sustained glow of Z>um;/xm enthusiasm to which the 
keen irony lends the strength of contrast. 
Kncyc. Brit., VIII. 678. 
Dionysiac amphora or vase. Same as Bacehie om- 
phora or rage. See Bacchic. 
Dionysian (di-6-nis'i-an), . [< Gr. An>i>o-<of, 
pertaining to Dionysus (as a proper name, L. 
IHonysius), < ASfrof, Dionysus: see Dionysus.] 
1. Same as Dionysiac. 
The Dioniman routs and processions. 
C. 0. SliMer, Manual of Archwol. (trans.), i 390. 
2. Pertaining to or characteristic of Dionysius 
the Elder or Dionysius the Younger, tyrants of 
Syracuse (about 405-343 B. c.), both notorious 
for cruelty, but especially the former. 
He ... [Francia] lived a life of republican simplicity, 
and punished with Dionynian severity the slightest want 
uf respect Kwyc. Brit., IX. 088. 
3. Pertaining to the abbot Dionysius Exiguus, 
who, in the sixth century, introduced the pres- 
ent vulgar reckoning of the years Dionysian 
period, a period of 53*2 Julian years, at ttie end of which 
Full moons fall on the same days of the year. It was in 
vi ntr. 1 for the purpose of computing the time of Easter. 
Dionysius's ear. See earl. 
Dionysus (di-o-ni'sus), . [L., also written Di- 
onyxos, < Gr. AIOVWTOC, the earlier name of Bac- 
chus: see Bacchus.'] In Gr. myth., the youth- 
ful and beautiful god of wine and the drama. 
Also called Bacchus. Seo Bacchus. 
Dioon (di-6'on), . [NL. , < Gr. it-, two-, + u6v = 
L.orum.an egg.] Acycadaceousgenusof plants, 
of which there are only two species, natives of 
tropical Mexico. The stem Is very short and stout, 
with a crown of large, rigid, and spine-tipped pinnate 
leaves. The female cone Is of the size of a child's head, 
each scale bearing two seeds as large as chestnuts. The 
seeds of D. ednte yield a kind of arrowroot. Also liimi. 
Dioonites (di-o-o-ni'tez), n. [NL., < Dioon + 
-ites.] The generic name of a fossil plant be- 
longing to the cycads, occurring in numerous 
localities in the Triassic and Jurassic of Europe. 
The genus Ditm\te*, as Instituted by Bomemann, consists 
largely of species previously assigned by authors to Ptrro- 
Jihllll n in. 
Diophantine (di-o-fan'tin), a. [< LL. Diophan- 
tus, Gr. A<o0apToc,'a proper name, + -in* 1 .] Of 
or pertaining to Diophantus of Alexandria, a 
celebrated Greek arithmetician, who flourished 
in the fourth century.- Diophantine analysis, 
indeterminate analysis: a method of solving Dfophan- 
t ine problems, namely, of solving Indeterminate algebraic 
equations, the solutions being rational numbers. The 
method consists in introducing an equation Involving an 
indeterminate eoetlicient, in such away that the square of 
one of the unknowns may be eliminated. It therefore de- 
pends upon the ingenuity and experience of the calculator. 
The fallowing is an example : Required to separate a given 
square nnml>er. N-. into the sum of two squares. Let z- 
he one of these squares, and let the root of the other be 
ax- N, where a is indeterminate. Then, the sum of the 
two squares will lie (1 4- n-'\r-' - iiNj- this is 
equal to N'J. we have(l + 2>i = 2oX, or x 
which is rational. 
