dolorific 
rifieus, < L. dolor, pain, grief, + facere, make.] 
Causing or expressing pain or grief. 
Dissipating that vapour, or whatever else it were, which 
obstructed the nerves, and giving the dolorijick motion 
free passage again. Bay, Works of Creation, ii. 
doloroso (do-lo-ro'so), a. [It., < LL. dolorosus : 
see dolorous.] In music, noting a soft and pa- 
thetic manner. 
dolorous (dol'o-rus), a. [< ME. dolerous, < OF. 
doloreux, F. douloureux = Sp. Pg. It. doloroso, 
< LL. dolorosus, painful, sorrowful, < L. dolor, 
pain, sorrow: see dolor.} 1. Exciting or ex- 
pressing sorrow, grief, or distress ; dismal ; 
mournful: as, a dolorous object; a dolorous re- 
gion ; dolorous sighs. 
Ther was Carados of the dolerowc toure. 
Merlin(E. E. T. S.), ii. 250. 
But when the dolorous day 
drew drearier toward twilight falling, came 
A bitter wind, clear from the North. 
Tennyson, Passing of Arthur. 
2f. Painful ; giving pain. 
Ther was dolerouse fight, and the mortalite so grete, 
that ther ran stremes of blode as a rennynge river thourgh 
the felde. Merlin (E. E. T. S.), ii. 337. 
Their despatch is quick, and less dolorous than the paw 
of the bear. Dr. II. More, Antidote against Atheism. 
= Svn. 1. See list under doleful. 
dolorously (dol'o-rus-li), a-dr. [< ME. dole- 
rousely; 'dolorous + -?// 2 .] Sorrowfully; in a 
manner to express grief or distress ; painfully. 
v of tho pantonershym toke and ledde hym forth bet- 
inge hym dolerousely, and I praye yow and requere that 
ye will telle me what ye be, and for what cause ye be 
come ? Merlin (E. E. T. S.), iii. 544. 
Made the wood dolorously vocal with a thousand shrieks 
and wails. Hawthorne, Blithedale Romance, xii. 
dolorousness (dol'o-rus-nes), n. Sorrowful- 
ness. 
dolour, n. See dolor. 
dolphin (dol'fin), n. [< ME. dolpliyn, dolfn 
(also delphin, delfin, < L.), < OF. dolphin, daul- 
phin, F. dauphin = Pr. dalfin = Sp. delfin = 
Pg. delfim = It. delfino, < L. delphimis, poet. 
delphin, < Gr. aetyif, later tit%<j>iv (oetyiv-), a dol- 
phin (DelpMnus delphis): see Delpninus. Cf. 
dauphin.'] 1. The popular name of the ceta- 
ceous mammals of the family Delpliinidce and 
genus DelpMnus, most of which are also known 
as and more frequently called porpoises, this 
word being interchangeable with dolphin. The 
dolphin proper is Delphinits ilelphu, having a longer and 
sharper snout than the porpoise proper, divided by a con- 
striction with convexity forward from the convex fore- 
head. It abounds in the Mediterranean and the temper- 
ate parts of the Atlantic, is an agile animal, and often 
follows ships in large herds, executing amusing gambols, 
describing semicircular curves which bring the blow-hole 
out of water to enable itself to breathe. A usual length 
is about 6 feet. 
That even yet the Dolphin, which him [Arion] bore 
Through the Ageean seas from Pirates vew, 
Stood still by him astonisht at his lore. 
Spenser, F. Q., IV. xl. 23. 
2. A general and popular name of fish of the 
family Coryphcenidce : so called from some con- 
fusion with the mammals of the same name. 
Species are Curi/phceiia Mppiirus, C. equisetis, etc., of an 
elongated anti-orsiform shape with ahigh protuberant fore- 
head and very long dorsal fin, inhabiting the high seas of 
warm and temperate latitudes. They range up to 5 or 6 
feet in length, and are remarkable for the change of color 
they undergo when taken out of the water. Also called 
dorado. See cut under Coryph&na. 
Parting day 
Dies like the dolphin, whom each pang imbues 
With a new colour, as it gasps away, 
The last still loveliest, till 'tis gone and all is gray. 
Byron, Childe Harold, iv. 29. 
3. In Gr. antiq., a ponderous mass of lead or 
iron suspended from a special yard on a naval 
vessel, and, if opportunity presented, let fall 
into the hold of a hostile ship to sink her by 
breaking through her bottom. 4. Naut.: (a) 
A spar or buoy made fast to an anchor, and 
usually supplied with a ring to enable vessels 
to ride by it. (6) A mooring-post placed at 
the entrance of a dock, it is generally composed of 
1726 
a series of piles driven near to one another in a circle, and 
brought together and capped over at the top. The name 
is also sometimes applied to the mooring-posts placed along 
a quay or wharf. 
5. In early artillery, a handle cast solid on a 
cannon. Usually two of these were placed at the bal- 
ancing-point, so that the gun would hang horizontal if 
suspended by them. They were commonly made in the 
conventional form of a dolphin ; hence the name. 
6. [can.] In astron., an ancient northern con- 
stellation, Delphinus (which see). 7. In arch., 
a technical term applied to the pipe and cover 
at a source for the supply of water. 8. In 
Christian archaol., an image or representation 
of a dolphin, constituting an emblem of love, 
diligence, and swiftness. It was frequently intro- 
duced in architectural sculpture, etc., or worn as an orna- 
ment by the early Christians. It was often represented 
entwined about an anchor. 
9f. Same as dauphin Dolphin of the mast(<.), 
a kind of wreath formed of plaited cordage, formerly 
fastened round the masts of a vessel as a support to the 
puddening. Falconer. See puddening. 
dolphinet (dol'fin-et), n. [< dolphin + -et.~] 
A female dolphin. 
The Lyon chose his mate, the Turtle Dove 
Her deare, the Dolphin his owne Dolphinet. 
Spenser, Colin Clout, 1. 886. 
dolphin-flower (dol'fin-flou / 'er), . A name 
of cultivated species of Delphinium; the lark- 
spur. 
dolphin-fly (dol'fin-fll), re. An insect of the 
apnis tribe, Aphis fabce, which destroys the 
leaves of bean-crops, thus rendering the plants 
incapable of bringing the ordinary quantity of 
seeds to perfection. Also called, from its black 
color, the collier-aphis. 
dolphin-striker (dol'fin-stri"ker), . A ship's 
spar extending perpendicularly downward from 
the cap of the 
bowsprit, and 
serving to sup- 
port the jib- 
boom by means 
of the martin- 
gale-stays. Al- 
so called mar- 
tingale. 
dolt (dolt), n. 
[First in early 
mod. E. ; ap- 
par. a var. of 
E. dial, dold, 
stupid, confus- 
ed, < ME. dold, 
another spell- 
ing of dulled, dult, dulled, pp. of dullen, dollen, 
make dull or stupid : see dull, v."] A dull, stu- 
pid fellow; a blockhead ; a numskull. 
Ogull! Odolt! 
As ignorant as dirt! Shak., Othello, v. 2. 
dolt (dolt), r. i. [< dolt, n.] To waste time 
foolishly ; behave foolishly. [Kare.] 
doltish (dol'tish), a. [< dolt + -isftl.] Like a 
dolt ; dull in intellect ; stupid ; blockish. 
The most arrant, doltish clown that I think ever was 
without the privilege of a bauble. 
Sir P. Sidney, Arcadia, i. 
doltishly (dol'tish-li), a*. In a doltish man- 
ner; stupidly. 
doltishness (dol'tish-nes), n. The character 
of a dolt ; stupidity. 
In that comicall part of our Tragedy, we haue nothing 
but scurrility, vnwoorthy of any chast eares : or some ex- 
treame shew of doltixhnes, indeed fit to lift vp a loude 
laughter, and nothing els. 
Sir P. Sidney, Apol. for Poetrie. 
dolvent. A. Middle English past participle of 
delve. 
domH, n. A Middle English form of doom. 
dom 2 (dom), n. [Pg., = Sp. don, < L. dominus, 
lord, master: see don 2 .] 1. The Portuguese 
form of don 2 , used in Portugal and Brazil. In 
Portugal this title is confined to the king and 
the members of the royal family. 2. The joker 
or blank card used in playing dom pedro. 3. 
[Abbr. of L. dominus.'] A title formerly given 
to the pope, and afterward to Roman Catholic 
dignitaries and members of some monastic 
orders. 
-dom. [< ME. -dom, < AS. -dom = OS. -dom = D. 
-dom = OHG. -tnom, MHG. -turn, Q. -turn, -thum 
= Dan. -dom, -domme = Sw. -dom, -dome, prop. 
an independent word, AS. dom, judgment, law, 
jurisdiction, E. doom : see doom.] A suffix, ori- 
ginally an independent word, meaning 'juris- 
diction,' hence province, state, condition, quali- 
ty, as in kingdom, earldom, popedom, etc., Chris- 
tendom, freedom, halidom, wisdom, etc.: much 
, Bowsprit-cap ; A, Dolphin-striker. 
Dombeya 
used also in colloquial or humorous formations, 
as in uppertendom. 
domablet (dom'a-bl), a. [< OF. domable, < L. 
domabilis., tamable, < domare = E. tame : see 
tame. Cf. daunt, domitable.~\ That may be 
tamed. Bailey, 1731. 
domablenesst (dom'a-bl-nes), . Capability of 
being tamed. Bailey, 1727. 
domage ' t, n. An obsolete form of damage. 
domage 2 !, [Hit. < L. domare, tame, subju- 
gate : see domable."] Subjugation. Hobbes. 
domain (do-man'), n. [= D. domein = G. do- 
mane = Dan. donuene = Sw. doman, < OF. do- 
maine (also demaine, ) E. demain and demesne), 
F. domaine = Sp. dominio (obs. domanio, after 
OF.) = Pg. dominio = It. dominio, domino, do- 
main, < L. domiiman, right of ownership, prop- 
erty, dominion: see dominion, dominate. Cf. 
demain.'] 1. Dominion; province of action; 
range or extent of authority : as, to trench on 
one's domain by interference. 
Me thought bi hym, as my witt couthe suffice, 
His hert was noo thyng in his owen demayne. 
Political Poems, etc. (ed. Fiirnivall), p. 66. 
2. The territory over which dominion is exer- 
cised ; the territory ruled over by a sovereign, 
or under the government of a commonwealth : 
as, the domains of Great Britain. 3. An estate 
inland; landed property. 
The large domain his greedy sons divide. 
Pope, Odyssey, xiv. 
The village, in becoming more populous from some 
cause or other, has got separated from its cultivated or 
common domain; or the domain has been swallowed up 
in it. Maine, Village Communities, p. 118. 
4. The land about the mansion-house of a lord, 
and in his immediate occupancy. 5. In law, 
ownership of land; immediate or absolute 
ownership ; permanent or ultimate ownership. 
In the last two senses the word coincides with 
demain, demesne. 6. The range or limits of any 
department of knowledge or sphere of action, 
or the scope of any particular subject : as, the 
domain of religion, sciencej art, letters, agricul- 
ture, commerce, etc.; the judicial domain. 
Them unrelenting past ! 
Strong are the barriers round thy dark domain. 
Bryant, The Past. 
7. In logic, the breadth, extension, circuit, or 
sphere of a notion. Crown domains, royal do- 
mains. Same as crown land (which see, under crown). 
Direct domain (F. domaine directe), in French-Cana- 
dian law, a right of superiority which the feudal seignior 
or grantor reserved to himself on a grant of real property 
held under feudal tenure or by emphyteutic lease. Do- 
main Of use (F. domaine utile), the use and enjoyment of 
the right of ownership of real property held under a grant 
from the feudal seignior or by emphyteutic lease, subject 
to certain dues and services to the feudal seignior or 
grantor, who retains his right of superiority. Eminent 
domain, right of eminent domain, the superiority or 
dominion of the sovereign power over all the property 
within the state, by which it is entitled to appropriate, 
by constitutional agency, any part necessary to the public 
good, compensation being given for what is taken. 
The Act of Virginia legislators which stretched the doc- 
trine of eminent domain to the borders of modern social- 
ism. Johns Hopkins Hist. Studies, 3d ser., p. 35. 
Public domain, national domain, state domain, (a) 
In Europe, the property belonging directly to and control- 
led by the state, such as lands set apart for state or pub- 
lic uses, roads, canals, navigable rivers, fortifications, 
public buildings, etc. (6) In the United States, the lands 
owned by the federal government or by a State ; the pub- 
lic lands held for sale or reserved for specific uses. 
domal (do'mal), a. [< ML. "domalw, < L. do- 
mus, ahouse: seerfowe.] In astrol., pertaining 
to a house. 
News that ought to make the heart of a coward tremble. 
Mars is now entering into the first house, and will shortly 
appear in all his domal dignities. 
Adduton, The Drummer, iii. 1. 
domanial (do-ma'ni-al), a. [< F. domanial, < 
ML. domanidlis, < domanium, an altered form 
(after F.) of L. domininm, domain : see domain,'] 
Relating to domains or landed estates. 
In all domanial and fiscal causes, and wherever the 
private interests of the Crown stood in competition with 
those of a subject, the former enjoyed enormous and su- 
perior advantages. Uallatn. 
domba (dom'ba), n. [E. Ind.] A large East 
Indian tree, Calophyllum inophyllum. The seeds 
furnish a fragrant oil, and the wood is hard and 
durable. 
dombet, a. A Middle English form of dumb. 
Dombeya (dom'be-a), n. [NL., named in honor 
of 3. Dombey, a French botanist (1742-93).] A 
sterculiaceous genus of handsome shrubs and 
trees, natives of Africa and the adjacent is- 
lands, including about, 25 species. The bark of D. 
platttnifolia, of Madagascar, yields a fiber that is used 
for making cordage. D. Burgessiee, of South Africa, is 
known ns the Zulu cherry. 
