Part 3085

<blockquote>Earth's chief <b>dictatress</b>, ocean's mighty queen. <i>Byron.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Dictatrix</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic*ta"trix</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L.]</ety> <def>A dictatress.</def>

<h1>Dictature</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic*ta"ture</hw> <tt>(?; 135)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>dictatura</ets>: cf. F. <ets>dictature</ets>.]</ety> <def>Office of a dictator; dictatorship.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Bacon.</i>

<h1>Diction</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>dicto</ets> a saying, a word, fr. <ets>dicere</ets>, <ets>dictum</ets>, to say; akin to <ets>dicare</ets> to proclaim, and to E. <ets>teach</ets>, <ets>token</ets>: cf. F. <ets>diction</ets>. See <er>Teach</er>, and cf. <er>Benison</er>, <er>Dedicate</er>, <er>Index</er>, <er>Judge</er>, <er>Preach</er>, <er>Vengeance</er>.]</ety> <def>Choice of words for the expression of ideas; the construction, disposition, and application of words in discourse, with regard to clearness, accuracy, variety, etc.; mode of expression; language; <as>as, the <ex>diction</ex> of Chaucer's poems</as>.</def>

<blockquote>His <b>diction</b> blazes up into a sudden explosion of prophetic grandeur. <i>De Quincey.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Diction</er>, <er>Style</er>, <er>Phraseology</er>.</syn> <usage><i>Style</i> relates both to language and thought; <i>diction</i>, to language only; <i>phraseology</i>, to the mechanical structure of sentences, or the mode in which they are <i>phrased</i>. The <i>style</i> of Burke was enriched with all the higher graces of composition; his <i>diction</i> was varied and copious; his <i>phraseology</i>, at times, was careless and cumbersome. "<i>Diction</i> is a general term applicable alike to a single sentence or a connected composition. Errors in grammar, false construction, a confused disposition of words, or an improper application of them, constitute bad <i>diction</i>; but the niceties, the elegancies, the peculiarities, and the beauties of composition, which mark the genius and talent of the writer, are what is comprehended under the name of <i>style</i>."</usage>

<i>Crabb.</i>

<h1>Dictionalrian</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic`tion*al"ri*an</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>A lexicographer.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Dictionary</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic"tion*a*ry</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. <plw>Dictionaries</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>dictionnaire</ets>. See <er>Diction</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>A book containing the words of a language, arranged alphabetically, with explanations of their meanings; a lexicon; a vocabulary; a wordbook.</def>

<blockquote>I applied myself to the perusal of our writers; and noting whatever might be of use to ascertain or illustrate any word or phrase, accumulated in time the materials of a <b>dictionary</b>. <i>Johnson.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Hence, a book containing the words belonging to any system or province of knowledge, arranged alphabetically; <as>as, a <ex>dictionary</ex> of medicine or of botany; a biographical <ex>dictionary</ex>.</as></def>

<h1>Dictum</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic"tum</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt>; <plu>pl. L. <plw>Dicta</plw> <tt>(#)</tt>, E. <plw>Dictums</plw> <tt>(#)</tt></plu>. <ety>[L., neuter of <ets>dictus</ets>, p. p. of <ets>dicere</ets> to say. See <er>Diction</er>, and cf. <er>Ditto</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>An authoritative statement; a dogmatic saying; an apothegm.</def>

<blockquote>A class of critical <b>dicta</b> everywhere current. <i>M. Arnold.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Law)</fld> <sd>(a)</sd> <def>A judicial opinion expressed by judges on points that do not necessarily arise in the case, and are not involved in it</def>. <sd>(b)</sd> <fld>(French Law)</fld> <def>The report of a judgment made by one of the judges who has given it</def>. <i>Bouvier</i>. <sd>(c)</sd> <def>An arbitrament or award.</def>

<h1>Dictyogen</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Dic*ty"o*gen</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/ a net + <ets>-gen</ets>.]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A plant with netveined leaves, and monocotyledonous embryos, belonging to the class <spn>Dictyogen\'91</spn>, proposed by Lindley for the orders <spn>Dioscoreace\'91</spn>, <spn>Smilace\'91</spn>, <spn>Trilliace\'91</spn>, etc.</def>

<h1>Dicyanide</h1> <Xpage=408>

<hw>Di*cy"a*nide</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>di-</ets> + <ets>cyan</ets>ogen.]</ety> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>A compound of a binary type containing two cyanogen groups or radicals; -- called also <altname>bicyanide</altname>.</def>

<h1>Dicyemata</h1> <Xpage=408>