Dipterygii 
Dipterygii (dip-te-rij'i-I), . pi. [NL., < Gr. 
61-, two-, + Trnpffyiov, a fin, a little wing, dim. 
of 7rTfpt;f, a wing.] In Bloch and Schneider's 
classification, an artificial group or class of 
fishes, distinguished simply by having two fins, 
or supposed to be so distinguished, it was based 
on error of observation, and included a tetraodontid 
(Ovum) and the genera Petromyzon and Leptocephalus. 
[Never used except by Bloch and Schneider.) 
Dipteryx (dip'te-riks), n. [NL., also improp. 
Dipterix, lit. ' two-winged ' (in allusion to its two 
enlarged calyx-lobes), < Gr. it-, two-, + frtpvf, 
a wing, < Tmpov, a wing.] A genus of Legu- 
minoste, found in the forests of Brazil, Guiana, 
etc., including 8 species. The fruit is of a character 
unusual in the order, being a one-seeded drupe. D. odo- 
rata of Cayenne furnishes the Tonquin or Tonka or Angos- 
tura bean, used for scenting snuff, for sachets, etc. The 
wood is very hard, strong, and durable, and is sometimes 
known as camara-wood. D. Eboensis, the eboe-tree of the 
Mosquito coast, Nicaragua, is a large tree, of which the 
wood is excessively heavy, and the inodorous fruit yields a 
large amount of oil. 
diptote (dip'tot), n. [< LL. diptota, pi., < Gr. 
dixTuToc. with a double case-ending, < <5i-, two-, 
+ jrTurtf, falling (irriJaic, case), < iriirrctv, fall.] 
In gram., a noun which has only two cases, as 
the Latin suppetice, suppetias, assistance. 
diptych (dip'tik), n. [\ LL. diptyclM, pi., < Gr. 
diTrrti^o, pi., a pair of writing-tablets (earlier 
Siim>xav iefaiov, lit. a double-folded tablet), 
neut. of OMTTUJOC, double-folded, < it-, two-, + 
itrvx//, fold, < vTvaativ, fold. The second ele- 
ment exists also in policy 2 , q. v.] 1 . A hinged 
two-leayed tablet of wood, ivory, or metal, with 
waxed inner surfaces, used by the Greeks and 
Romans for writing with the style. In Rome, 
during the empire, consuls and other officials were in the 
habit of sending as presents to their friends artistic dip- 
tychs inscribed with their names, date of entering upon 
office, etc. 
2. In the early church: (a) The tablets on 
which were written the names of those who 
were to be especially commemorated at the 
celebration of the eucharist. (b) The list of 
names BO recorded, (c) The intercessions in 
the course of which these names were intro- 
duced. The recitation of the name of any prelate or civil 
ruler in the diptychs was a recognition of his orthodoxy ; 
its omission, the reverse. The mention of a person after 
death recognized him as having died in the communion of 
the church, and the introduction of his name into the list 
of saints or martyrs constituted canonization. In liturgies 
the diptychs are distinguished as the diptychs of the living 
and the diptychs of the dead, the latter including also the 
commemoration of the saints. In most liturgies the dip- 
tychs are included in the great intercession (see interces- 
sion). In the Western Church the use of the diptychs died 
out between tin; ninth and the twelfth century ; in the East- 
ern Church it still continues. [In the ecclesiastical sense 
it is always plural with the definite article the diptychs.] 
What used anciently to be called the diptychs, but in lat- 
ter times the bead-roll. Rock, Church of our Fathers, ii. 346. 
3. In art, a pair of pictures or carvings on two 
panels hinged together. They are common in By- 
zantine and medieval art, and in the later examples are 
generally of a religious character. See triptych. [In this 
sense usually singular.] 
Little worm-eaten diptychs, showing angular saints on 
gilded panels. H. James, Jr., Pass. Pilgrim, p. 286. 
Dipus (di'pus), . [NL., < Gr. fS/Trovf (= L. 
bipes), two-footed, < it-, two-, + Trorf (Trod-) = 
E. foot.'] The typical genus of jerboas of the 
family Dipodidce and subfamily Dipodince: so 
called from the mode of progression, which is 
by means of great leaps with the hind legs, 
aided by the long tail, as in the kangaroo. Dipus 
sagitta is an example. See Dipodidce, jerboa. 
dipygUS (di-pi'gus), n. ; pi. dipygi (-ji). [NL., < 
Gr. oi-, two-, + Trvyi/, rump, buttocks.] In tera- 
tol., a monster in which the pelvis and the lum- 
bar portion of the spinal column are duplicated. 
dipyloa (dip'i-lon), n. ; pi. dipyla (-la). [L., < 
Gr. oMrti/(ov, neut. of 6'nrvAoc, with two gates, < 
<5;-, two-, + nvfai, gate.] In anc. Gr. fort., a 
gate consisting of two separate gates placed 
side by side. It is to be distinguished from the form 
of double gate, composed of an outer and an inner gate 
with a walled court between them a usual disposition of 
Greek fortress gates. The most conspicuous example of 
the dipylon is the Sacred Gate of Athens (called the Dipy- 
lon by way of eminence), on the northwest of the city, 
which afforded access to the outer Ceramiciis and to the 
Academy, and through which passed the Sacred Way to 
Eleusis and the main road to the Pineus. 
dipyre (di-pir'), n. [< LL. dipyros, < Gr. 61- 
Trtipor, twice put in the fire, < &-, twice, + nvp 
= E. fire.} A mineral occurring in square 
prisms, either single or adhering to one another 
in fascicular groups. Before the blowpipe it melts 
with ebullition or intumescence, and its powder on hot 
coals phosphoresces with a feeble light. Its name indi- 
cates the double effect of flre upon it in producing first 
phosphorescence and then fusion. It consists chiefly of 
silicate of alumina, with small proportions of the silicates 
of soda and lime, and belongs to the scapolite family. 
1636 
dipyrenous (di-pi-re'nus), a. [< Gr. it-, two-, + 
7rvpr/v, the stone of a stone-fruit (see i)yrene), 
+ -OMS.] In bot., containing two stones or 
pyrenes. 
diradiation (di-ra-di-a'shon), n. [< L. di- for 
dis-, asunder, + radiatio^i-), radiation.] The 
emission and diffusion of rays of light or heat 
from a luminous body ; radiation. 
Dirca (der'ka), . [NL. ; cf. L. Dirce, Gr. 
A/p/07, a fountain near Thebes in Boeotia.] A 
genus of apetalous shrubs, of the natural order 
Thymeleacete, and the sole representative of 
the Order in America. There ore two species, D. pa- 
luetrii of the Atlantic States and D. occidentalis of Cali- 
fornia. They are known as leatherwood, from the very 
tough inner bark. The flowers precede the leaves, and 
are followed by a small reddish drupaceous fruit. All 
parts of the plant are acrid. The bark of D. palustrw 
produces violent vomiting when taken into the stomach, 
and erythema and ultimate vesication when applied to 
the skin. 
Dircasa (der-se'a), n. [NL., < L. Dirc<ea, fern, 
of Dlrcceus, pertaining to Dirce: see Dirca.'} 
A genus of beetles, of the family Melandryidte. 
The species inhabit northern Europe and North America. 
Seven have been described, five of which are American. 
D. concolor occurs in the middle States. The genus was 
founded by Fabricius in 1798. 
Dircseidae (der-se'i-de), TO. pi. [NL., < Dircaa 
+ -idee.} A family of Coleoptera, named from 
the genus Dinxea. Kirby, 1837. [Not in use.] 
dirdum (dir'dum), TO. [Sc., also dirdam, dur- 
dum; cf. Gael, diardan, anger, surliness, snarl- 
ing.] 1. Tumult; uproar. 
There is such a dirdum forsooth for the loss of your 
gear and means. W. Guthrie, Sermons, p. 17. 
2. A blow; hence, a stroke of misfortune; an 
ill turn. 3. A scolding; a scoring. 
My word ! but she's no blate to show her nose here. I 
gi'ed her such a dirdum the last time I got her sitting in 
our laundry as might hae served her for a twelvemonth. 
Petticoat Tales, I. 280. 
dire (dir), a. [< L. dirus, fearful, awful, dread- 
ful, akin to Gr. deivof, fearful, terrible, feMc, 
fearful, frightened, deificiv, fear, v., deoo, fear.] 
Causing or attended by great fear or terrible 
suffering; dreadful; awful: as, dire disaster; 
the dire results of intemperance. 
Medusa was so dire a monster as to turn into stone all 
those who but looked upon her. Bacon, Fable of Perseus. 
Dire was the noise 
Of conflict. Milton, P. L., vi. 211. 
"What dire distress 
Could make me cast all hope of life aside? 
William Morris, Earthly Paradise, II. 163. 
= Syn. Fearful, woeful, disastrous, calamitous, destruc- 
tive, terrific, awful, portentous. 
direct (di-rekf), a. [< ME. directs P. Pr. 
direct = Sp. Pg. directo, Pg. also direito = It. 
diretto = D. G. direct = Dan. direkte = Sw. 
direkt, < L. directtis, straight, level, upright, 
steep, pp. of dirigere (also derigere, with prefix 
de-), set in a straight line, straighten, direct, 
guide, steer, arrange, < di- for dis-, apart (or 
de-, down), + regere, keep straight, direct, rule : 
see regent, right. From L. directus come also 
ult. dress, address, droit, adroit, maladroit.} 
1 . Straight ; undeviating ; not oblique, crook- 
ed, circuitous, refracted, or collateral : as, to 
pass in a direct line from one body or place to 
another; a direct course or aim; a direct ray 
of light ; direct descent (that is, descent in an 
unbroken line through male ancestors). 
It was no time by direct means to seek her. 
Sir P. Sidney. 
There were six Dukes of Normandy in France, in a di- 
rect Line succeeding from Father to Son. 
Baker, Chronicles, p. 20. 
2. In astrou., appearing to move forward in 
the zodiac according to the natural order and 
succession of the signs, or from west to east : 
opposed to retrograde: as, the motion of a 
planet is direct. 3. Having a character, rela- 
tion, or action analogous to that of straight- 
ness of direction or motion : as, a direct interest 
(that is, part ownership) in a property or busi- 
ness. 
It is scarcely too much to say, that Lord Byron never 
wrote without some reference, direct or indirect, to him- 
self. Macaulay, Moore's Byron. 
In a great modern state it is comparatively few who 
have any direct personal knowledge of foreign affairs or 
any direct personal interest in them. 
E. A. Freeman, Amer. Lects., p. 246. 
Differences on subjects of the first importance are al- 
ways painful, but the direct shock of contrary enthusi- 
asms has something appalling about it. 
J. R. Seeley, Nat. Religion, p. 3. 
4. In the natural, unreflecting way ; proceeding 
by a simple method to attain an object ; with- 
out modifying one's procedure owing to recon- 
direct 
dite considerations ; explicit ; free from the in- 
fluence of extraneous circumstances. Thus, a 
direct accusation is one made with the avowed intent of 
bringing the alleged offender to justice : opposed to a 
speech or writing which has the same effect without the 
avowal of the purpose, or perhaps not even of the mean- 
ing. 
5. Plain; express; not ambiguous; straight- 
forward ; positive : as, he made a direct acknow- 
ledgment. 
Add not a doubtful comment to a text 
That in itself is direct and easy. 
Beau, and Fl., Thierry and Theodoret, iii. 1. 
Being busy above, a great cry I hear, and go down ; and 
what should it be but Jane in a fit of direct raving, which 
lasted half an hour. Pepys, Diary, Aug. 18, 1668. 
6. Straightforward; characterized by the ab- 
sence of equivocation or ambiguousness ; open ; 
ingenuous; sincere. 
There be that are in nature faithful and sincere, and 
plain and direct; not crafty and involved. Bacon. 
I want a simple answer, and direct, 
But you evade ; yes ! 'tis as I suspect. 
Crabbe, The Borough. 
7. In logic, proceeding from antecedent to con- 
sequent, from cause to effect, etc Direct ac- 
tion. See action, and direct-action, a. Direct battery, 
congruity, contempt, conversion, demonstration, 
dial, evidence, examination, fire, ete. See the nouns. 
Direct Illumination, rays, etc.; illumination, rays, etc., 
without reflection or refraction. Direct induced cur- 
rent. See induction. Direct Interval. See interval. 
Direct motion, in music, the motion of two voices in 
the same direction, up or down. It is also called similar 
motion, and includes parallel motion. See motion. Di- 
rect Operation, in math., an operation performed by the 
direct application of a rule, and not by trial or approxi- 
mation: opposed to inverse operation. Direct predi- 
cation, in loffic, one the subject of which denotes an ob- 
ject while the predicate signifies a character : opposed 
to indirect predication, in which the subject conveys the 
quality while the predicate indicates the object. Direct 
product, the scalar quantity obtained by multiplying the 
magnitudes of two vectors together with the cosine of the 
angular difference of their directions. Direct proof, 
proof which proceeds from a rule and the statement of a 
case as coming under that rule to the application of the 
rule to that case : as, few men wounded in the liver re- 
cover ; this man is wounded in the liver ; this man will 
probably not recover. Direct ratio, or direct propor- 
tion. See ratio. Direct rhythm. See rhythm. Di- 
rect sphere, a sphere whose pole coincides with the 
zenith or lies on the horizon. Direct tax. See tax. 
Direct turn, in music, a melodic embellishment. See 
turn. Direct Vision, vision by unrefracted and unre- 
flected rays. Direct-Vision spectroscope. See spec- 
troscope. Direct way around an inclosure or a circuit, 
in math., that way around in which the inside of the in- 
closure is kept at the left-hand side. 
direct (di-rekf), v. [< ME. directen, < L. di- 
rectus, pp. of dirigere (> It. dirigere = Sp. Pg. 
Pr. dirigir = P. diriger = D. dirigeren = G. diri- 
giren = Dan. dirigere = Sw. dirigera), straight- 
en, direct: see direct, a., and cf. dress, v. Cf. 
also dirge, dirigible.'] I. trans. 1. To point or 
aim in a straight line toward a place or an 
object ; cause to move, act, or work toward a 
certain object or end; determine in respect to 
direction: as, to direct an arrow or a piece of 
ordnance ; to direct the eye ; to direct a course 
or flight. 
The master of the ship is judged by the directing his 
course aright. Bacon, Advancement of Learning, ii. 189. 
But though the rank which you hold in the royal family 
might direct the eyes of a poet to you, yet your beauty 
and goodness detain and fix them. 
Dryden, Ded. of Indian Emperor. 
I have sometimes reflected for what reason the Turks 
should appoint such Harks to direct their faces toward in 
Prayer. Maundrell, Aleppo to Jerusalem, p. 14. 
2. To point out or make known a course to; 
impart information or advice to for guidance : 
as, to direct a person to his destination; he 
directed his friend's attention to an improved 
method. 
Direct me, if it be your will, 
Where great Aufldius lies. Shale., Cor., iv. 4. 
3. To control the course of ; regulate ; guide 
or lead ; govern ; cause to proceed in a par- 
ticular manner : as, to direct the steps of a child, 
or the affairs of a nation. 
Let discretion 
Direct your anger. 
Fletcher, Double Marriage, v. 3. 
They taught how to direct the voice unto harmony. 
Sandys, Travailcs, p. 175. 
And, pleased the Almighty's orders to perform, 
Rides in the whirlwind, and directs the storm. 
Addison, The Campaign, 1. 292. 
4. To order ; instruct ; point out to, as a course 
of proceeding, with authority ; prescribe to. 
I'll first direct my men what they shall do. 
S/ta/e., M. W. of W., iv. 2. 
The Prophet directed his followers to order their chil- 
dren to say their prayers when seven years of age. 
E. W. Lane, Modern Egyptians, I. 67. 
