Part 281

These filthy dreamers . . . speak evil of dignities.

Jude. 8.

6. Fundamental principle; axiom; maxim. [Obs.]

Sciences concluding from dignities, and principles known by themselves.

Sir T. Browne.

Syn. -- See Decorum.

To stand upon one's dignity, to have or to affect a high notion of one's own rank, privilege, or character.

They did not stand upon their dignity, nor give their minds to being or to seeming as elegant and as fine as anybody else.

R. G. White.

Dig*no"tion (?), n. [L. dignoscere to distinguish; di- = dis- + gnoscere, noscere, to learn to know.] Distinguishing mark; diagnostic. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

Dig"o*nous (?), a. [Gr. &?; = &?; double + &?; an angle.] Having two angles. Smart.

Di"gram (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; letter.] A digraph.

Di"graph (?), n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice + &?; a writing, &?; to write.] Two signs or characters combined to express a single articulated sound; as ea in head, or th in bath.

Di*graph"ic (?), a. Of or pertaining to a digraph. H. Sweet.

Di*gress" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Digressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Digressing.] [L. digressus, p. p. of digredi to go apart, to deviate; di- = dis- + gradi to step, walk. See Grade.] 1. To step or turn aside; to deviate; to swerve; especially, to turn aside from the main subject of attention, or course of argument, in writing or speaking.

Moreover she beginneth to digress in latitude.

Holland.

In the pursuit of an argument there is hardly room to digress into a particular definition as often as a man varies the signification of any term.

Locke.

2. To turn aside from the right path; to transgress; to offend. [R.]

Thy abundant goodness shall excuse This deadly blot on thy digressing son.

Shak.

Di*gress", n. Digression. [Obs.] Fuller.

Di*gres"sion (?), n. [L. digressio: cf. F. digression.] 1. The act of digressing or deviating, esp. from the main subject of a discourse; hence, a part of a discourse deviating from its main design or subject.

The digressions I can not excuse otherwise, than by the confidence that no man will read them.

Sir W. Temple.

2. A turning aside from the right path; transgression; offense. [R.]

Then my digression is so vile, so base, That it will live engraven in my face.