Part 2773

<h1>Dazzle</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Daz"zle</hw>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>To be overpoweringly or intensely bright; to excite admiration by brilliancy.</def>

<blockquote>Ah, friend! to <b>dazzle</b>, let the vain design. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To be overpowered by light; to be confused by excess of brightness.</def>

<blockquote>An overlight maketh the eyes <b>dazzle</b>. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>I dare not trust these eyes; They dance in mists, and <b>dazzle</b> with surprise. <i>Dryden.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dazzle</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Daz"zle</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A light of dazzling brilliancy.</def>

<h1>Dazzlement</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Daz"zle*ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Dazzling flash, glare, or burst of light.</def>

<i>Donne.</i>

<h1>Dazzlingly</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Daz"zling*ly</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a dazzling manner.</def>

<h1>De-</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>De-</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>. <def>A prefix from Latin <i>de</i> down, from, away; as in <i>de</i>bark, <i>de</i>cline, <i>de</i>cease, <i>de</i>duct, <i>de</i>camp. In words from the French it is equivalent to Latin <i>dis</i>- apart, away; or sometimes to <i>de</i>. Cf. <er>Dis-</er>. It is negative and opposite in <i>de</i>range, <i>de</i>form, <i>de</i>stroy, etc. It is intensive in <i>de</i>prave, <i>de</i>spoil, <i>de</i>clare, <i>de</i>solate, etc.</def>

<h1>Deacon</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Dea"con</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>diakne</ets>, <ets>deakne</ets>, <ets>deken</ets>, AS. <ets>diacon</ets>, <ets>deacon</ets>, L. <ets>diaconus</ets>, fr. Gr. <?/ a servant or minister, a minister of the church; of uncertain origin. In sense 2 prob. confused with <ets>dean</ets>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld> <def>An officer in Christian churches appointed to perform certain subordinate duties varying in different communions. In the Roman Catholic and Episcopal churches, a person admitted to the lowest order in the ministry, subordinate to the bishops and priests. In Presbyterian churches, he is subordinate to the minister and elders, and has charge of certain duties connected with the communion service and the care of the poor. In Congregational churches, he is subordinate to the pastor, and has duties as in the Presbyterian church.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The chairman of an incorporated company.</def> <mark>[Scot.]</mark>

<h1>Deacon</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Dea"con</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To read aloud each line of (a psalm or hymn) before singing it, -- usually with <i>off</i>.</def> <mark>[Colloq. New. Eng.]</mark> See <er>Line</er>, <tt>v. t.</tt>

<note>&hand; The expression is derived from a former custom in the Congregational churches of New England. It was part of the office of a deacon to read aloud the psalm given out, one line at a time, the congregation singing each line as soon as read; -- called, also, <i>lining out the psalm</i>.</note>

<h1>Deaconess</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Dea"con*ess</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld> <def>A female deacon</def>; as: <sd>(a)</sd> <fld>(Primitive Ch.)</fld> <def>One of an order of women whose duties resembled those of deacons.</def> <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(Ch. of Eng. and Prot. Epis. Ch.)</fld> <def>A woman set apart for church work by a bishop.</def> <sd>(c)</sd> <def>A woman chosen as a helper in church work, as among the Congregationalists.</def>

<h1>Deaconhood</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Dea"con*hood</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The state of being a deacon; office of a deacon; deaconship.</def>

<h1>Deaconry</h1> <Xpage=371>

<hw>Dea"con*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>See <er>Deaconship</er>.</def>