Part 2756

<blockquote>A day of clouds and of thick <b>darkness</b>. <i>Joel. ii. 2.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Prince of darkness</col>, <cd>the Devil; Satan. "In the power of the <i>Prince of darkness<i>."</cd></cs>

<i>Locke.</i>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Darkness</er>, <er>Dimness</er>, <er>Obscurity</er>, <er>Gloom</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Darkness</i> arises from a total, and <i>dimness</i> from a partial, want of light. A thing is <i>obscure</i> when so overclouded or covered as not to be easily perceived. As tha shade or <i>obscurity</i> increases, it deepens into <i>gloom</i>. What is <i>dark</i> is hidden from view; what is <i>obscure</i> is difficult to perceive or penetrate; the eye becomes <i>dim</i> with age; an impending storm fills the atmosphere with <i>gloom</i>. When taken figuratively, these words have a like use; as, the <i>darkness</i> of ignorance; <i>dimness</i> of discernment; <i>obscurity</i> of reasoning; <i>gloom</i> of superstition.</usage>

<h1>Darksome</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Dark"some</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Dark; gloomy; obscure; shaded; cheerless.</def> <mark>[Poetic]</mark>

<blockquote>He brought him through a <b>darksome</b> narrow pass To a broad gate, all built of beaten gold. <i>Spenser.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Darky</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Dark"y</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A negro.</def> <mark>[Sleng]</mark>

<h1>Darling</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Dar"ling</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>derling</ets>, <ets>deorling</ets>, AS. <ets>de\'a2rling</ets>; <ets>de\'a2re</ets> dear + <ets>-ling</ets>. See <er>Dear</er>, and <er>-ling</er>.]</ety> <def>One dearly beloved; a favorite.</def>

<blockquote>And can do naught but wail her <b>darling's</b> loss. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Darling</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Dar"ling</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Dearly beloved; regarded with especial kindness and tenderness; favorite. "Some <i>darling</i> science." <i>I</i>. <i>Watts</i>. "<i>Darling</i> sin." <i>Macaulay</i>.</def>

<h1>Darlingtonia</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Dar`ling*to"ni*a</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[NL. Named after Dr. William <ets>Darlington</ets>, a botanist of West Chester, Penn.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A genus of California pitcher plants consisting of a single species. The long tubular leaves are hooded at the top, and frequently contain many insects drowned in the secretion of the leaves.</def>

<h1>Darn</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Darn</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Darned</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Darning</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OE. <ets>derne</ets>, prob. of Celtic origin; cf. W. <ets>darnio</ets> to piece, break in pieces, W. & Arm. to E. <ets>tear</ets>. Cf. <er>Tear</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>]</ety> <def>To mend as a rent or hole, with interlacing stitches of yarn or thread by means of a needle; to sew together with yarn or thread.</def>

<blockquote>He spent every day ten hours in his closet, in <b>darning</b> his stockins. <i>Swift.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Darning last</col>. <cd>See under <er>Last</er>.</cd> -- <col>Darning needle</col>. <sd>(a)</sd> <cd>A long, strong needle for mending holes or rents, especially in stockings.</cd> <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <cd>Any species of dragon fly, having a long, cylindrical body, resembling a needle. These flies are harmless and without stings. <note>[In this sense, usually written with a hyphen.]</note> Called also <altname>devil's darning-needle</altname>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Darn</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Darn</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A place mended by darning.</def>

<h1>Darn</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Darn</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>A colloquial euphemism for <er>Damn</er>.</def>

<h1>Darnel</h1> <Xpage=367>

<hw>Dar"nel</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>darnel</ets>, <ets>dernel</ets>, of uncertain origin; cf. dial. F. <ets>darnelle</ets>, Sw. <ets>d\'86r-repe</ets>; perh. named from a supposed intoxicating quality of the plant, and akin to Sw. <ets>d\'86ra</ets> to infatuate, OD. <ets>door</ets> foolish, G. <ets>thor</ets> fool, and Ee. <ets>dizzy</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Any grass of the genus <spn>Lolium</spn>, esp. the <spn>Lolium temulentum</spn> (bearded darnel), the grains of which have been reputed poisonous. Other species, as <spn>Lolium perenne</spn> (rye grass or ray grass), and its variety <spn>L. Italicum</spn> (Italian rye grass), are highly esteemed for pasture and for making hay.</def>

<note>&hand; Under <i>darnel</i> our early herbalists comprehended all kinds of cornfield weeds.</note>

<i>Dr. Prior.</i>