D I S 
tcring into orders before he is twenty-three years of age; 
and it is. difcretionary --in the bifhop to„admit him to that 
order at what time he thinks fit. AylijjFe. 
DISCRE'TIVE, adj. [ difcretus , Lat.] In logic, difcrc. 
five propofitions are fitch wherein various, and feCmingly 
oppofite, judgments are made, whole variety or diftinc- 
tion is noted by the particles, but, though, yet. See. as, 
Travellers may change their climate, but not their tem¬ 
per; job was patient, though his grief was great. Watts. 
[In grammar.] wifcre'tive diftindtions are fuch as imply 
oppofition ; as, Not a man, but. a bead:. 
DISCRI'MINABLE, adj. Diftinguifhable by outward 
marks or tokens. 
To DISCRIMINATE, v. a. \_difcrimino, Lat.] To 
mark with notes of difference ; to diftinguifh by certain 
tokens from another.—The right hand is diferiminated 
from the left by a natural, neceffary, and never to be 
confounded, diftindlion. South .—There may be ways of 
diferiminating the voice ; as by acutenefs and gravity, the 
feveral degrees of rifing and falling from one tone or note 
to another. Holder. —To feledt or feparate from others.— 
You owe little lefs for what you are not, than for what 
you are, to that diferiminating mercy, to which alone you 
owe your exemption from miferies. Boyle. 
DISCRI'MINATENESS, f. Diftindtnefs ; marked 
difference. 
DISCRIMINATION,^ [from dijeriminatio, Lat.] 
The ftate of being diftinguifhed from other perfons or 
things.—There is a reverence to be fhewed them on the 
account of their diferimination from other places, and re¬ 
paration for facred ufes. Stillingjlcd. —The adt of diftin- 
guithing one from another; diftindtion; difference put. 
—A fatire fliould expofe nothing but what is corrigible ; 
and make a due diferimination between thofe that are, and 
thofe who are not, the proper objedts'of it. Addifon .—• 
The marks of diftindtion.—Take heed of abetting any 
factions, or applying any public diferiminations in matters 
of religion. King Charles .—Letters arife from the firft 
original diferiminations of voice, by way of articulation, 
whereby the ear is able to judge and obferve the diffe¬ 
rences of vocal founds. Holder. 
DISCRIMINATIVE, adj. That which makes the 
mark of diftindtion ; charadteriftical.—The only ftanding 
teft, and difcriminative characteriftic of any metal or mi¬ 
neral, nnift be fought for in the conftituent matter of it. 
Woodward. —That which obferves diftindtion.— Difcrimi- 
native Providence knew before the nature and courfe of 
all things. More. 
DISCRI'MINOUS, adj. [from diferimtn, Lat.] Dange¬ 
rous ; hazardous. Not vfual. —Any kind of fpitting of 
blood imports a very diferiminous ftate, unlefs it happens 
upon the gaping of a vein opened by a plethory. Harvey. 
DISCUB A'TION,y. [from the Lat. dc, from, and eu. 
ho, to lie down.] The act of lying down at meat. 
DISCU'BITORY, adj. \_difcubitorius, Lat.] Fitted to 
the pofture of leaning.—After bathing they retired to 
bed, and refrefhed themfelves with a repaft; and fo that 
cuftom, by degrees, changed their cubiculary beds into 
difeubitory. Brown. 
DISCUM'BENCY, f. [ difeumbens , Lat.] The adt of 
leaning at meat, after the ancient manner.—The Greeks 
and Romans ufed the cuftom of dfeumbency at meals, 
which was upon their left fide ; for fo their right hand 
was free and ready for all fervice. Brown. 
To DISCUM'BER, v. a. To difengage from any trou- 
blefome weight; to difengage from impediment: 
His limbs difcumbcTd of the clinging veil, 
He binds the facred cindture round his bread. Pope. 
To DISCU'RE, v. a. \_decouvrir, Fr.] Todifcover; to 
reveal. A word perhaps peculiar to Spenfen 
I will, if pleafe you it difeure, affay 
To eafe you of that ill. Fairy Oueen. 
DISCUR'RENT, adj. [from the Lat. de, from, and 
«r urro, to run.] Wandering, running here and there. Cole. 
D I S 871 
DISCUR'SION, /. The adt of running to and fro. 
DISCUR'SIVE, adj. [difcitrjif, Fr. from difcUrro, Lat.] 
Moving here and there; roving; defultory.'—Some noifes 
help fieep; as the blowing of the wind, and the trickling 
of water: they move a gentle attention; and whatfoever 
moveth attention, without too much labour, ftilleth the 
natural and difeurfive motion of the fpirits. Bacon .—Pro¬ 
ceeding by regular gradation from premifes to confe- 
querices; argumentative. This is foinetimes, perhaps, 
not improperly, written difctmrfive. —There is a fanetity 
of foul and body, of more efficacy for the receiving of 
divine truths, than the greateft pretences to difeurfive de- 
monftration. More. 
DISCURSIVELY, adv. By due gradation of argu¬ 
ment.—We have a principle within, whereby we think,., 
and we know we think; whereby we do difcurjively , and 
by way of ratiocination, deduce one thing from another. 
Hale. 
DISCUR'SORY, adj. \_difcurfor, Lat.] Argumental; 
rational; proceeding by regular gradation. 
DIS'CUS, f. [Lat.] A quoit; a heavy piece of iron 
thrown in the ancient Iports : 
From Elatreus’ ftroog arm the difeus flies, 
And fings with unmatch’d force along the Ikies. Pope. 
To DISCU'SS, v. a. [difehtio, dfcvjfum, Lat.] To ex¬ 
amine; to ventilate; to clear by dilquifition.—We are 
to difeufs only thofe general exceptions which have been 
taken. Hooker. —To difp'erfe : commonly applied to a 
tumour or Iwelling.—Many arts were ufed to difeufs the 
beginnings of new affedtion. Wc/iton. —To break to pieces. 
—Confider the threefold effedt of Jupiter’s trifulk, to 
burn, difeufs, and terebrate. Brown. —To (hake off. A 
Lati'nifm.-»That all regard of fhame flie had difcujl. Spcnf. 
DISCUS'SER,/. He that difeuffes ; an examiner. 
DISCUS'SION,/. Difquifition ; examination; venti¬ 
lation of a queftion.—Truth cannot be found without 
fome labour and intention of the mind, and the thoughts 
dwelling a confiderable time upon the furvey aud difeuf- 
fion of each particular. South. 
Various difeuffions tear our heated brain : 
Opinions often turn ; ftill doubts remain ; 
And who indulges thought, increafes pain. Prior. 
[In furgery.] DifcuJJion or refolution is nothing elfe but 
breathing out the humours by infenfible transpiration, 
Wifeman. 
DISCUS'SIVE, adj. Having the power to difeufs or 
difperfe any noxious matter. 
DISCU'TIENT, adj. [from the Lat. de, from, and cu - 
tio, to fltake.] Repelling, driving back. 
DISCU'TIENTS, /. [from difeutio, Lat. to fltake in 
pieces.] Medicines which by their fubtilty dilfolve and 
diffipate any morbid and ftagnant fluid. 
To DISDA'IN, v. a. \_dedaigner , Fr.] To fcorn ; to 
confider unworthy. — God hath difdained the world of 
that noble fpirit, which was the hope of all learned men, 
and the patron of my young mcifes. Spenfcfs Dedication 
oftheRuinesofTime. —To deem unworthy of one’s cha- 
radter: 
Tell him, Cato 
Difdains a life which he has power to offer. Addifon. 
To DISDA'IN, v. n. To think it an indignity.—That 
to be lefs than gods difdain’d. Milton. 
DISDA'IN, f. \_fdegno, Ital.] Contempt; fcorn; con¬ 
temptuous anger; indignation.—Children being haugh¬ 
ty, through difdain and want of nurture., do (tain the no¬ 
bility of their kindred. Ecclus. 
But againft you, ye Greeks, ye coward train, 
Gods! how my foul is mov’d with juft difdain! Pope. 
DISDAIN'ED, part. adj. Difdainful: 
Revenge the jeering and difdairid contempt 
Of this proud king. Shakefpeare. 
DISDAIN'FUL, 
