Part 275

Dif*fuse"ly (?), adv. In a diffuse manner.

Dif*fuse"ness, n. The quality of being diffuse; especially, in writing, the use of a great or excessive number of word to express the meaning; copiousness; verbosity; prolixity.

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Dif*fus"er (?), n. One who, or that which, diffuses.

Dif*fu`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. The quality of being diffusible; capability of being poured or spread out.

Dif*fu"si*ble (?), a. 1. Capable of flowing or spreading in all directions; that may be diffused.

2. (Physiol.) Capable of passing through animal membranes by osmosis.

Dif*fu"si*ble*ness, n. Diffusibility.

Dif*fu"sion (?), n. [L. diffusio: cf. F. diffusion.] 1. The act of diffusing, or the state of being diffused; a spreading; extension; dissemination; circulation; dispersion.

A diffusion of knowledge which has undermined superstition.

Burke.

2. (Physiol.) The act of passing by osmosis through animal membranes, as in the distribution of poisons, gases, etc., through the body. Unlike absorption, diffusion may go on after death, that is, after the blood ceases to circulate.

Syn. -- Extension; spread; propagation; circulation; expansion; dispersion.

Dif*fu"sive (?), a. [Cf. F. diffusif.] Having the quality of diffusing; capable of spreading every way by flowing; spreading widely; widely reaching; copious; diffuse. "A plentiful and diffusive perfume." Hare.

Dif*fu"sive*ly, adv. In a diffusive manner.

Dif*fu"sive*ness, n. The quality or state of being diffusive or diffuse; extensiveness; expansion; dispersion. Especially of style: Diffuseness; want of conciseness; prolixity.

The fault that I find with a modern legend, it its diffusiveness.

Addison.

Dif`fu*siv"i*ty (?), n. Tendency to become diffused; tendency, as of heat, to become equalized by spreading through a conducting medium.

Dig (dg), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dug (dg) or Digged (dgd); p. pr. & vb. n. Digging. -- Digged is archaic.] [OE. diggen, perh. the same word as diken, dichen (see Dike, Ditch); cf. Dan. dige to dig, dige a ditch; or (?) akin to E. 1st dag. &radic;67.] 1. To turn up, or delve in, (earth) with a spade or a hoe; to open, loosen, or break up (the soil) with a spade, or other sharp instrument; to pierce, open, or loosen, as if with a spade.

Be first to dig the ground.

Dryden.

2. To get by digging; as, to dig potatoes, or gold.

3. To hollow out, as a well; to form, as a ditch, by removing earth; to excavate; as, to dig a ditch or a well.

4. To thrust; to poke. [Colloq.]

You should have seen children . . . dig and push their mothers under the sides, saying thus to them: Look, mother, how great a lubber doth yet wear pearls.

Robynson (More's Utopia).

To dig down, to undermine and cause to fall by digging; as, to dig down a wall. -- To dig from, out of, out, or up, to get out or obtain by digging; as, to dig coal from or out of a mine; to dig out fossils; to dig up a tree. The preposition is often omitted; as, the men are digging coal, digging iron ore, digging potatoes. -- To dig in, to cover by digging; as, to dig in manure.