dytic1dæ

pl. [Mod. Lat. dytic (us), and Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -ida.] Entom.: A family of predaceous Beetles, abundant in stagnant water. When inactive or hibernating they conceal themselves in the thick tufts of aquatic herbage or in the soft mud. They become active in the early spring, and may be then seen moving in the water by the propulsion of their strong hind legs, and coming at intervals to the surface to breathe. The antenne are smooth, and destitute of pubescence. There are three sub-families. They have the same faculty as the Car abide of emitting a fetid liquid for defensive purposes through the interval between the head and thorax. They are able to make good use of their wings, flying a considerable distance from pond to pond. Commonly, but erroneously, written Dytiscide. dyt-i-cus, s . [Gr. dytikos -fond of diving; dyō =to plunge. J Entom.: A genus of predaceous Water-beetles, the type of the family Dyticide (q. v.). Dyticus marginal is is one of the commonest pond insects,. and the favorite tenant of many a juvenile aquarium. Commonly, but erroneously, written Dytiscus. dy-vôur, 8. [Fr. devoir.] A debtor who cannot pay; a bankrupt who has made a ce io bonorum to his creditors. Dyticus. IMG:content-0692.png:[blocks in formation] THE fifth letter and the second vowel in the English language. It has three principal sounds, the first long, and corresponding to the sound of i in French and Italian, as in me ; the second short, as in men , set ; the third like a or the French è, as in there . There is also the modification caused by the short or long e being followed byr, as in her and here , and the u or dropped sound of it, as in camel . E occurs in words more frequently than any other letter of the English alphabet, this being in a great measure due to the fact that it represents in many instances the Anglo-Saxon a , e , o , and u . It is pronounced with a medium opening of the mouth, the tongue being expanded to touch the upper molars, and the voice gently exp i rated. E is largely used as a final vowel to lengthen the preceding syllable, being itself silent: as man , mane ; can, cane. Sometimes, however, it exercises no influence on the preceding vowel, as in gone, give. It is also used after c and g to denote the softened sounds of those letters: 0 followed by e being pronounced as s, and g followed bye, as j . Up to the end of the fourteenth century the final e was in most cases pronounced, except before vowel, or letter h : thus the first line of Chaucer's Canterbury Tales was pronounced as fol lows: "Whan that Aprille with his shourës swote." 1575 treaa, . The combination ei has two sounds: the first the same as long e, as in receive , deceive, .; the second that of long a, or French è, as in reign, feign , . The digraph ie has the sound of long e, as in siege , believe , . E. As an initial is used for East, as in charts: E. by S.=East by South. E. As a symbol is used: 1. In numerals : For 250. 2. In Chem. For the element Erbium. 3. In Music: (1) For the note Hypate in Greek music (q. (2) The key-note of the Church mode, called Phrygian. (3) The note Elami in the system of Hexachords, (4) The third note of the diatonic scale, corre sponding to mi of the Italians. Properly restricted to the E above tenor C, the octave above it being represented by e and the octave below it by EE. (5) The key having four sharps in its signature. 4. In Church Calendar: For the fifth of the Do minical letters. E. As a prefix (Lat. e, ex ) is used to signify from, out of, or away from, and also privation. [Ex-.] *e, *ee, s . [EYE.] "About hys hals ane quhi il hung had he, Was all his solace for tinsale of his E. " Douglas: Virgil, 90, 42. Ee of the day : Noon, midday. ee-bree, s . Eye-brow.