Part 249

2. A mark consisting of two dots [], placed over the second of two adjacent vowels, to denote that they are to be pronounced as distinct letters; as, coöperate, aërial.

Di`æ*ret"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; dividing.] (Med.) Caustic. [Obs.]

Di`a*ge`o*trop"ic (?), a. [Gr. dia` through, at variance + &?; earth + &?; turning.] (Bot.) Relating to, or exhibiting, diageotropism.

Di`a*ge*ot"ro*pism (?), n. (Bot.) The tendency of organs (as roots) of plants to assume a position oblique or transverse to a direction towards the center of the earth.

Di"a*glyph (?), n. [Gr. &?; to engrave; dia` through + &?; to carve.] An intaglio. Mollett.

{ Di`a*glyph"ic (?), Di`a*glyph"tic (?), } a. Represented or formed by depressions in the general surface; as, diaglyphic sculpture or engraving; -- opposed to anaglyphic.

Di`ag*nose" (?), v. t. & i. To ascertain by diagnosis; to diagnosticate. See Diagnosticate.

Di`ag*no"sis (?), n.; pl. Diagnoses (#). [NL., fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to distinguish; dia` through, asunder + &?; to know. See Know.] 1. (Med.) The art or act of recognizing the presence of disease from its signs or symptoms, and deciding as to its character; also, the decision arrived at.

2. Scientific determination of any kind; the concise description of characterization of a species.

3. Critical perception or scrutiny; judgment based on such scrutiny; esp., perception of, or judgment concerning, motives and character.

The quick eye for effects, the clear diagnosis of men's minds, and the love of epigram.

Compton Reade.

My diagnosis of his character proved correct.

J. Payn.

Differential diagnosis (Med.), the determination of the distinguishing characteristics as between two similar diseases or conditions.

Di`ag*nos"tic (?), a. [Gr. &?; able to distinguish, fr. &?;: cf. F. diagnostique.] Pertaining to, or furnishing, a diagnosis; indicating the nature of a disease.

Di`ag*nos"tic, n. The mark or symptom by which one disease is known or distinguished from others.

Di`ag*nos"ti*cate (?), v. t. & i. [From Diagnostic.] To make a diagnosis of; to recognize by its symptoms, as a disease.

Di`ag*nos"tics (?), n. That part of medicine which has to do with ascertaining the nature of diseases by means of their symptoms or signs.

His rare skill in diagnostics.

Macaulay.

Di`a*gom"e*ter (?), n. [Gr. &?; to transmit + -meter.] A sort of electroscope, invented by Rousseau, in which the dry pile is employed to measure the amount of electricity transmitted by different bodies, or to determine their conducting power. Nichol.

Di*ag"o*nal (?), a. [L. diagonalis, fr. Gr. &?; from to angle; dia` through + &?; an angle; perh. akin to E. knee: cf. F. diagonal.] (Geom.) Joining two not adjacent angles of a quadrilateral or multilateral figure; running across from corner to corner; crossing at an angle with one of the sides.

Diagonal bond (Masonry), herringbone work. See Herringbone, a. -- Diagonal built (Shipbuilding), built by forming the outer skin of two layers of planking, making angles of about 45° with the keel, in opposite directions. -- Diagonal cleavage. See under Cleavage. -- Diagonal molding (Arch.), a chevron or zigzag molding. -- Diagonal rib. (Arch.) See Cross- springer. -- Diagonal scale, a scale which consists of a set of parallel lines, with other lines crossing them obliquely, so that their intersections furnish smaller subdivisions of the unit of measure than could be conveniently marked on a plain scale. -- Diagonal stratification. (Geol.) Same as Cross bedding, under Cross, a.

Di*ag"o*nal (?), n. 1. A right line drawn from one angle to another not adjacent, of a figure of four or more sides, and dividing it into two parts.

2. (Engin.) A member, in a framed structure, running obliquely across a panel.

3. A diagonal cloth; a kind of cloth having diagonal stripes, ridges, or welts made in the weaving.

Di*ag"o*nal*ly, adv. In a diagonal direction.