Part 3126

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Tending to diminish.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote><b>Diminutive</b> of liberty. <i>Shaftesbury.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Diminutive</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Di*min"u*tive</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Something of very small size or value; an insignificant thing.</def>

<blockquote>Such water flies, <b>diminutives</b> of nature. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Gram.)</fld> <def>A derivative from a noun, denoting a small or a young object of the same kind with that denoted by the primitive; <as>as, <ex>gosling</ex>, <ex>eaglet</ex>, <ex>lambkin</ex></as>.</def>

<blockquote>Babyisms and dear <b>diminutives</b>. <i>Tennyson.</i></blockquote>

<note>&hand; The word sometimes denotes a derivative verb which expresses a diminutive or petty form of the action, as <i>scribble</i>.</note>

<h1>Diminutively</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Di*min"u*tive*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a diminutive manner.</def>

<h1>Diminutiveness</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Di*min"u*tive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being diminutive; smallness; littleness; minuteness.</def>

<h1>Dimish</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Dim"ish</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>See <er>Dimmish</er>.</def>

<h1>Dimission</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Di*mis"sion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>dimissio</ets>. See <er>Dimit</er>, and cf. <er>Dismission</er>.]</ety> <def>Leave to depart; a dismissing.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Barrow.</i>

<h1>Dimissory</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Dim"is*so*ry</hw> <tt>(?; 277)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>dimissorius</ets>: cf. F. <ets>dimissoire</ets>. See <er>Dimit</er>.]</ety> <def>Sending away; dismissing to another jurisdiction; granting leave to depart.</def>

<cs><col>Letters dimissory</col> <fld>(Eccl.)</fld>, <cd>letters given by a bishop dismissing a person who is removing into another diocese, and recommending him for reception there.</cd></cs>

<i>Hook.</i>

<h1>Dimit</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Di*mit"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>dimittere</ets> to send away, le<?/ go; <ets>di- = dis-</ets> + <ets>mittere</ets> to send. See <er>Dismiss</er>.]</ety> <def>To dismiss, let go, or release.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<h1>Dimity</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Dim"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Prob. fr. Gr. <?/ of double thread, dimity; <?/ = <?/ twice + <?/ a thread of the warp; prob. through D. <ets>diemet</ets>, of F. <ets>dimite</ets>, <ets>d\'82mitte</ets>. Cf. <er>Samite</er>.]</ety> <def>A cotton fabric employed for hangings and furniture coverings, and formerly used for women's under-garments. It is of many patterns, both plain and twilled, and occasionally is printed in colors.</def>

<h1>Dimly</h1> <Xpage=414>

<hw>Dim"ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a dim or obscure manner; not brightly or clearly; with imperfect sight.</def>