Part 149

They [peacocks] demit and let fall the same [i. e., their train].

Sir T. Browne.

2. To yield or submit; to humble; to lower; as, to demit one's self to humble duties. [R.]

3. To lay down, as an office; to resign. [Scot.]

General Conway demitted his office.

Hume.

Dem"i*tint` (?), n. (Fine Arts) (a) That part of a painting, engraving, or the like, which is neither in full darkness nor full light. (b) The shade itself; neither the darkest nor the lightest in a composition. Also called half tint.

Dem"i*tone` (?), n. (Mus.) Semitone. [R.]

Dem"i*urge (?), n. [Gr. dhmioyrgo`s a worker for the people, a workman, especially the maker of the world, the Creator; dh`mios belonging to the people (fr. dh^mos the people) + 'e`rgon a work.] 1. (Gr. Antiq.) The chief magistrate in some of the Greek states.

2. God, as the Maker of the world.

3. According to the Gnostics, an agent or one employed by the Supreme Being to create the material universe and man.

Dem`i*ur"gic (?), a. [Gr. dhmioyrgiko`s.] Pertaining to a demiurge; formative; creative. "Demiurgic power." De Quincey.

Dem"i*vill` (?), n. (Old Law) A half vill, consisting of five freemen or frankpledges. Blackstone.

Dem"i*volt` (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- volte.] (Man.) A half vault; one of the seven artificial motions of a horse, in which he raises his fore legs in a particular manner.

Dem"i*wolf` (?), n. A half wolf; a mongrel dog, between a dog and a wolf. Shak.

De*mob`i*li*za"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. démobilisation. See Mobilization.] (Mil.) The disorganization or disarming of troops which have previously been mobilized or called into active service; the change from a war footing to a peace footing.

De*mob"i*lize (?), v. t. [Cf. F. démobiliser.] (Mil.) To disorganize, or disband and send home, as troops which have been mobilized.

De*moc"ra*cy (d*mk"r*s), n.; pl. Democracies (- sz). [F. démocratie, fr. Gr. dhmokrati`a; dh^mos the people + kratei^n to be strong, to rule, kra`tos strength.] 1. Government by the people; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained and directly exercised by the people.

2. Government by popular representation; a form of government in which the supreme power is retained by the people, but is indirectly exercised through a system of representation and delegated authority periodically renewed; a constitutional representative government; a republic.

3. Collectively, the people, regarded as the source of government. Milton.

4. The principles and policy of the Democratic party, so called. [U.S.]

Dem"o*crat (dm"*krt), n. [Cf. F. démocrate.] 1. One who is an adherent or advocate of democracy, or government by the people.

Whatever they call him, what care I, Aristocrat, democrat, autocrat.

Tennyson.

2. A member of the Democratic party. [U.S.]

Dem`o*crat"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?;: cf. F. démocratique.] 1. Pertaining to democracy; favoring democracy, or constructed upon the principle of government by the people.

2. Relating to a political party so called.

3. Befitting the common people; -- opposed to aristocratic.