Part 250

Di`a*go"ni*al (?), a. Diagonal; diametrical; hence; diametrically opposed. [Obs.]

Sin can have no tenure by law at all, but is rather an eternal outlaw, and in hostility with law past all atonement; both diagonal contraries, as much allowing one another as day and night together in one hemisphere.

Milton.

Di"a*gram (?), n. [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to mark out by lines; dia` through + &?; to draw, write: cf. F. diagramme. See Graphic.] 1. (Geom.) A figure or drawing made to illustrate a statement, or facilitate a demonstration; a plan.

2. Any simple drawing made for mathematical or scientific purposes, or to assist a verbal explanation which refers to it; a mechanical drawing, as distinguished from an artistical one.

Indicator diagram. (Steam Engine) See Indicator card, under indicator

Di"a*gram, v. t. To put into the form of a diagram.

Di`a*gram*mat"ic (?), a. Pertaining to, or of the nature of, a diagram; showing by diagram. -- Di`a*gram*mat"ic*ly (#), adv.

Di"a*graph (?), n. [Gr. &?; to draw: cf. F. diagraphe. See Diagram.] A drawing instrument, combining a protractor and scale.

{ Di`a*graph"ic (?), Di`a*graph"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F. diagraphique.] Descriptive.

Di`a*graph"ics (?), n. The art or science of descriptive drawing; especially, the art or science of drawing by mechanical appliances and mathematical rule.

Di`a*he`li*o*trop"ic (?), a. [Gr. &?; through, at variance + &?; sun + &?; turning.] (Bot.) Relating or, or manifesting, diaheliotropism.

Di`a*he`li*ot"ro*pism (?), n. (Bot.) A tendency of leaves or other organs of plants to have their dorsal surface faced towards the rays of light.

Di"al (?), n. [LL. dialis daily, fr. L. dies day. See Deity.] 1. An instrument, formerly much used for showing the time of day from the shadow of a style or gnomon on a graduated arc or surface; esp., a sundial; but there are lunar and astral dials. The style or gnomon is usually parallel to the earth's axis, but the dial plate may be either horizontal or vertical.

2. The graduated face of a timepiece, on which the time of day is shown by pointers or hands.

3. A miner's compass.

Dial bird (Zoöl.), an Indian bird (Copsychus saularius), allied to the European robin. The name is also given to other related species. -- Dial lock, a lock provided with one or more plates having numbers or letters upon them. These plates must be adjusted in a certain determined way before the lock can be operated. -- Dial plate, the plane or disk of a dial or timepiece on which lines and figures for indicating the time are placed.

Di"al, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dialed (?) or Dialled; p. pr. & vb. n. Dialing or Dialling.] 1. To measure with a dial.

Hours of that true time which is dialed in heaven.

Talfourd.

2. (Mining) To survey with a dial. Raymond.

Di"a*lect (?), n. [F. dialecte, L. dialectus, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; to converse, discourse. See Dialogue.] 1. Means or mode of expressing thoughts; language; tongue; form of speech.

This book is writ in such a dialect As may the minds of listless men affect. Bunyan. The universal dialect of the world.

South.

2. The form of speech of a limited region or people, as distinguished from ether forms nearly related to it; a variety or subdivision of a language; speech characterized by local peculiarities or specific circumstances; as, the Ionic and Attic were dialects of Greece; the Yorkshire dialect; the dialect of the learned.

In the midst of this Babel of dialects there suddenly appeared a standard English language.

Earle.

Prescott.