divineness 
He scconde person in dinineneae Is, 
Who vi assume, and bring vs to the blis. 
Ilakluyt'8 Voyages, I. 207. 
All true work is sacred ; in all work, were it but true 
hand-labour, there is something of dieinenea. Carlyle. 
2. Excellence in the supreme degree. 
An earthly paragon ! Behold ditinenett 
No elder than a boy ! Shak., Cymhellne, ill. 6. 
diviner (di-vi'ner), n. [< ME. tliriuour, deri- 
nour, derinor, a soothsayer, a theologian, < OF. 
devineor, devinur, F. devineur, < LL. dirinator, a 
soothsayer: see dii'inator.] 1. One who pro- 
fesses or practises divination; one who pretends 
to predict events, or to reveal hidden things, 
by the aid of superior beings or of supernatural 
means, or by the use of the divining-rod. 
And wetlth it wele that he is the wisest man, and the 
bcste devynour that is, sat only god. 
Merlin (E. E. T. 8.), L 35. 
These nations . . . hearkened unto observers of times, 
and unto diviners. Deut. xvili. 14. 
2. One who guesses; a conjecturer. 
A notable diviner of thoughts. Locke. 
Blrd-dlvlnert. Same as bird-conjurer (which see, under 
conjurer). 
divineress (di-vi'ner-es), n. [< ME. devinerese, 
< F. devineresse ; fern, of diviner.'] A female 
diviner or soothsayer; the priestess of an an- 
cient oracle. [Bare.] 
The divinerets ought to have no perturbations of mind, 
or impure passions, at the time when she was to consult 
the oracle ; and if she had, she was no more fit to be in- 
spired than an instrument untuned to render an harmo- 
nious souiiil. Dryden, Plutarch. 
diving-beetle (di'ving-be'tl), n. A popular 
name for various aquatic beetles of the family 
Dyttscidx. They swim freely in the water, and 
may often be seen diving rapidly to the bottom, 
whence their name. See cut under Dytiscus. 
diving-bell (di' ving-bel), n. A mechanical con- 
trivance consisting essentially of an inverted 
cup-shaped or bell-shaped chamber filled with 
air, in which persons are lowered beneath the 
surface of the water to perform various oper- 
ations, such as examining the foundations of 
bridges,blasting rocks, recovering treasure from 
sunken vessels, etc. Div- 
ing-bells have been made of 
various forms, such as that of 
a bell, or a hollow truncat- 
ed cone or pyramid, with the 
smaller end closed and the 
larger one, which is placed 
lowermost, open. The air 
contained within the bell pre- 
vents it from being filled with 
water on submersion, so that 
the diver may descend in it 
and breathe freely, provided 
he is furnished with a new 
supply of fresh air as fast as 
the contained air becomes vi- 
tiated by respiration. The 
diving-bell is now generally 
made of cast-iron in the form 
of an oblong chest (A), open 
at the bottom, and with sev* 
eral strong convex lenses set 
In its upper side or roof, to 
admit light to the interior. 
It is suspended by chains 
from a barge or other suitable 
vessel, and can be raised 
Diving-bell. 
lowered at pleasure, in accordance with signals given by the 
persons within, who are supplied with fresh air injected 
into a flexible pipe by means of a forcing-pump (B) placed 
In the vessel, while the vitiated air escapes by a cock in 
the upper part of the bell. An improvement on this form, 
ralU'il the iiiiiifiln*. enables the occupant, instead of de- 
pending upon the attendants above, as in the older forms, 
to raise or sink the hell, move it about at pleasure, or 
r:ii <r i;iv:it weights with it and deposit them in any de- 
sirnl spnt. 
diving-bird, . Same as diver*, 1 (6). 
diving-buck (di'ving-buk), n. A book-name 
of the antelope Cephalopnus mergens, translat- 
ing the Dutch name duykerbok (which see) : so 
called from the way in which the animal ducks 
or dives in the brush. See cut under Cephalo- 
nhus. 
diving-dress (dl'ving-dres), n. Submarine ar- 
mor (which see, under armor). 
diving-spider (di'ving-spi'der), n. An aquatic 
spider, Argi/roneta aquatica, which builds its 
nest under water, and habitually dives to reach 
it, carrying down bubbles of air, with which it 
fills its nest on the principle of the diving-bell. 
It is thus enabled to remain under water, though 
fitted only for breathing air. See cut under 
Argi/roneta. 
diving-stone (di'ving-ston), n. A name given 
to a species of jasper. 
divining-rod (di-vi'uing-rod), n. A rod or twig 
used in divining ; especially, a twig, generally 
of hazel, held in the hand and supposed by its 
bending downward to indicate spots where met- 
1707 
alliferous deposits or water may be found by 
digging. It Is usually made of two twigs of hazel, or of 
apple or some other fruit-tree, tied together at the top 
with thread, or of a naturally forked branch, and is grasp- 
ril by bntb hands In such a way that it moves when at- 
tracted by tho sought for deposit. This method of search- 
ing for ore or water has been in use for rnitui ii-s. but its 
efficacy Is now rarely credited by intelligent persons. 
Shall we have most likelihood of success if we dig from 
east to west, or from west to east? or will you assist us 
... with your divining-rod of witches-hazel V 
Scott, Antiquary, xxlii. 
The divining-rod of reverential study. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 2d ser., p. 47. 
divining-staff (di-vi'ning-staf), . Same as 
divining-rod. 
The mitre of high priests and the divining-ita/ol sooth- 
sayers were things of envy and ambition. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 695. 
divinistert, [ME. dyvynistre; < divine + -ist 
+ -cr.~] A diviner ; a revealer of hidden things 
by supernatural means. 
Therfore I stynte, I nam no dyvynistre. 
Chaucer, Knight's Tale, L 1958. 
divinity (di-vin'i-ti), ; pi- divinities (-tiz). 
[< ME. dicinite, devynite, < OF. devinite, divini- 
te, F. divinit^ = Pr. divinitat = Sp. divinidad = 
Pg. divindade = It. divinita, divinitade, divini- 
tate, < L. divinita(t-)s, divinity, < divinus, divine : 
see divine."] 1 . The character of being divine ; 
deity; godhead; the nature of God ; divine na- 
ture. 
When he attributes divinity to other things than God, 
it la only a divinity by way of participation. Stillingfleet. 
2. [cap.'] God; the Deity; the Supreme Being: 
generally with the definite article. 
'I'is the Divinity that stirs within us ; 
"I'is Heaven itself that points out an hereafter, 
And intimates eternity to man. Addann, Cato, v. 1. 
3. In general, a celestial being; a divine being, 
or one regarded as divine ; a deity. 
There's a divinity that shapes our ends, 
Kough-hew them how we will. 
Shak., Hamlet, v. 2. 
Prudence was the only Divinity which he worshipped, 
and the possession of virtue the only end which he pro- 
posed. Dryden, Character of Polybins. 
4. That which is divine in character or qual- 
ity; a divine attribute ; supernatural power or 
virtue. 
They say there is divinity in odd numbers. 
Shak., M. W. of W., v. 1. 
There's such divinity doth hedge a king, 
That treason can but peep to what it would, 
Acts little of his will. Shak., Hamlet, Iv. 5. 
There is more divinity 
In beauty than in majesty. 
Ford, Broken Heart, iv. 1. 
When the Church without temporal support is able to 
doe her great works upon the unforc't obedience of men, 
It argues a divinity about her. 
Milton, Church-Government, it 3. 
6. The science of divine things; the science 
which treats of the character of God, his laws 
and moral government, the duties of man, and 
the way of salvation ; theology : as, a system 
of divinity; a doctor of divinity. 
Hear him hut reason In divinity, 
And, all-admiring, with an inward wish 
You would desire the king were made a prelate. 
Shak., Hen. V., L 1. 
In some places the Author has been so attentive to his 
Divinity that he has neglected his Poetry. 
Addison, Spectator, No. 369. 
One ounce of practical divinity is worth a painted ship- 
load of all their reverences have imported these fifty years. 
Sterne. 
Children are . . . breviaries of doctrine, living bodies 
of divinity, open always and inviting their elders to pe- 
ruse the characters inscribed on the lovely leaves. 
Alcott, Table-Talk, p. 67. 
Berkshire Divinity, a name sometimes given to the the- 
ological system of Edwards, Hopkins, and others, who 
resided in Berkshire county, Massachusetts. Divinity 
calf. See calf* . Divinity nail, the name given in Scot 
land to a theological college, or to that department of a 
university in which theology is taught. New Divinity. 
New-light Divinity, names given to the New England 
theology of Edwards and others, in the earlier history of 
its development New Haven Divinity, a popular title 
for a phase of modified Calvinism, deriving ite name from 
the residence of ite chief founder, N. W. Taylor (1788-1858) 
of Yale Theological Seminary in Sew Haven, Connecticut, 
divinization (div'i-ni-za'shon), n. [= F. rfi- 
riniyutivn = It. divinizzazione ; as divinize + 
-ation.] The act of divinizing; deification: as, 
the divinization of pleasure. Also divinisation. 
[Rare.] 
\Vith this natural bent [toward pleasure, life, and fe- 
i-umiityl . . . in the Indo-Enropeun race, . . . wlu-tr 
would they be now if it had not been for Israel, and UK- 
stern check which Israel put npon the glorification and 
divinizati<m of this natural bent of mankind, this attrac- 
tive aspect of the not ourselves? 
If. Arnold, Literature and Dogma, i. 
division 
divinize (div'i-niz), v. t. ; pret. and pp. divinised, 
ppr. divinizing. [= F. divininer = Sp. divinizar 
= Pg. divinimir = It. divinizzare; as divine + 
-i'.c.] To deify; render divine; regard as di- 
vine. Also divinise. 
Man is ... the animal transfigured and divinized by 
the Spirit. Alcott, Tablets, p. 181. 
In pagan Rome, Vice was not regarded as heinous, be- 
cause the Deities whom Rome worshipped were vicious, 
and thus Vices themselves were divinized. 
Bp. Chr. Wordsworth, Church of Ireland, p. 168. 
diviset, a. [< L. divteus, pp. of dividere, divide : 
see divide. Ct.devise,v.] Divided; loose; crum- 
bling. 
Thai (oranges] loveth lande that rare is and divitc. 
Palladiut, lluebondrie (E. K. T. 8.), p. 110. 
divisi (de-ve'ze). [It. ; pi. of diviso, < L. divi- 
sus, pp. of dividere, divide.] In music, sepa- 
rate : a direction that instruments playing from 
a single staff of music are to separate, one play- 
ing the upper and the other the lower notes. 
divisibility (di-viz-i-bil'i-ti), n. [= F. divisi- 
bility! = Sp. divisibilidad "= Pg. divisibilidade = 
It. divisibility, < ML. *divisibilita(t-)s, < LL. di- 
visibilis, divisible: see divisible.] 1. The ca- 
pacity of being divided or separated into parts. 
2. In arith., the capacity of being exactly 
divided that is, divided without remainder. 
Infinite divisibility, the character of being divisible into 
parts which are also divisible, and so on ad inflnitum. As 
applied to matter, the term Implies properly that any por- 
tion of matter may, by the exercise of sufficient force, be 
separated Into parts. After the general acceptance of the 
Daltonian theory of atoms, the term infinite divisibility o/ 
matter was long retained with the meaning of the Infinite 
divisibility of space. 
The geometricians (you know) teach the divisibility of 
quantity in infinitum, or without stop, to be mathemati- 
cally demonstrable. ;;///., Things above Reason. 
I said at first that infinite divisibility of matter was the 
doctrine now in vogue amongst the learned, but upon 
second thoughts I believe 1 have misrepresented them, 
and the mistake arose from want of distinguishing be- 
tween infinite and indefinite divisibility. 
A. Tucker, Light of Nature, HI. ill. I 12. 
divisible (di-viz'i-bl), a. and n. [= F. divisible 
= Sp. divisible = Pg. divisirel = It. divisibile, < 
LL. divisibilis, divisible, < L. dividere, pp. divi- 
sus, divide: see divide."] I. a. 1. Capable of 
division ; that may be separated or disunited ; 
consisting of separable parts or elements: as, a 
line is divisible into an infinite number of points. 
The outermost layer of the body is a dense chitinous 
cuticula, usually dieinible into several layers. 
Huxley, Anat. Invert., p. 546. 
2. In arith., capable of division without re- 
mainder : as, 100 is divisible by 10. 
H. n. That which is susceptible of division. 
The composition of bodies, whether it be of divisible! or 
indivisibles, Is a question which must be rank'd with the 
indlssolvables. Olanville, Vanity of Dogmatizing, v. 
divisibleness (di-viz'i-bl-nes), n. Divisibility ; 
capability of being divided. 
The dirisiblenens of nitre into fixed and volatile parts. 
Boyle, Works, I. S76. 
divisibly (di-viz'i-bli), adv. In a divisible 
manner. 
Besides body, which is impenetrably and divitibly ex- 
tended, there Is In nature another substance . . . which 
doth not consist of parts separable from one another. 
Cvdvorth, Intellectual System, p. 834. 
division (di-vizh'on), n. [< ME. divisioun, de- 
visioun, < OF. devision, division, F. division = 
Pr. devision, devezio = Sp. division = Pg. divisSo 
= It. divisions = D. divisie = G. Dan. Sw. divi- 
sion, < L. divisio(n-), division, < dividere, pp. 
dirisus, divide: see divide.'] 1. The act of di- 
viding or separating into parts, portions, or 
shares : as, the division of a word (as by means 
of a hyphen at the end of a line) ; the division 
of labor ; the division of profits. 
I'll make divition of my present with yon : 
Hold, there is half my coffer. Shot., T. N., IH. . 
Specifically (a) [L. dtcwi'o(n-), tr. of Gr. iiaipttrit.] In 
logic, the enumeration and naming of the parts of a whole ; 
especially, the enumeration of the species of a genus. The 
latter is also distinguished as logical division. Division is 
mainly distinguished from classification in that the latter 
is a modern word, and supposes minute observation of the 
facts, while the former, as an Aristotelian term, denotes a 
much ruder proceeding, based on ordinary knowledge, and 
undertaken at the outset of the study of the genus divided. 
One of the distinctive doctrines of the Ramist school of logi- 
cians was that all division should proceed by dichotomy. 
Divition Is a divldyng of that whiche is more commune 
into those whlchc are lesse commune. As a defmicion 
therefore dooeth declare what a thing is, so the divition 
sheweth how many thinges are conteined in the same. 
Sir T. Wilson, Rule of Reason (1561). 
Division Is the parting or dividing of a word or thing 
that is more generall, unto other words or things lesse gen- 
erall. Klviulrrille, Arte of Logicke (1599X il. 3. 
(l>) In her., the separating of the field by lines in the di- 
rection of the bend, the bar, etc. (called rtt'timon bendwite, 
