delf (1), delph (1)

[A. S. delf digging, delf an to dig with a spade; Dut. delven.] IMG:content-2076.png:[blocks in formation] "The delfs would be so flown with waters that no gins or machines could suffice to lay and keep them dry." Ray: On the Creation. 4. That which is dug out; a sod. "If a delph be cast up in a field that hath lien for the space of five or six years, wild oats will spring up of their own accord." -App. Agr . Surv. Banffs., p. 42. II. Her .: One of the abatements or marks of disgrace, indicating that a challenge has been revoked, or one's word broken. It is represented by a square cut sod of earth, turf, . dělf (2), delft, delph (2), s . & a . [From Delft, in Holland, a town founded about 1074, and famous for its earthenware, first manufactured there about 1310, and also as the point of embarkation of the Pilgrim fathers for this country in 1620. ( Haydn , .)] IMG:content-2077.png:[blocks in formation] Calico-printing: A mode of printing, also known as China-blue. delft-ware, s . A kind of pottery originally manufactured at Delft, in Holland, in the fourteenth century. It was among the best of its day, being considered equal to the Italian in quality, but somewhat inferior in its ornamentation. The glaze of the delft-ware is made as follows: Kelp and Woolwich sand are calcined together, to form a vitreous ma called frit. Lead and tin are calcined to form a gray, powdery oxide. The frit is powdered and mixed with the oxide, zaffre being added to confer blue color, arsenic for dead-white. This is fused, making an opaque enamel; ground and mixed to the consistence of cream. Delft-ware is made of a calcareous clay of varying color, which is ground in water, strained, and evaporated to a plastic consistence; it is then tempered, and stored in cellars to ripen. Prolonged storage increases its tenacity and plasticity. It is then kneaded, with out sand; formed on the wheel, dried, and partially burned, reaching the biscuit condition. The bibulous ware is then glazed, dried, packed in saggars, which are piled in the kiln and baked. dê-li-ắc, s . (From the island Delos.] A kind of sculptured vase; also, beautiful bronze and silver. De-li-an, a . [From Delos, an island in the Egean, now called Dili.] Of or pertaining to Delos. Delian problem, s . Math .: The duplication of the cube; so called from the reply of the oracle of Delos to the deputation sent from Athens to inquire how to stop the plague then raging, that the plague would be stayed as soon as they had doubled the altar of Apollo, which was a cube. [DUPLICATION.] *děl-i-bāte, v . t . [Lat. delibatum , sup. of delibo =to taste.] 1. Lit .: To taste, to sip. 2. Fig .: To dabble in, to have a slight acquaintance with. "When he has traveled, and delibated the French and the Spanish."-Marmion: Antiquary. *děl-i-ba-tion, s. [Lat. delibatio .] A tasting, a supping; a trial or e ay of. "Some delibation of Jewish antiquity."-Mede: Works, bk. i., dis. 3. *dě-lib-er, *deliberen, v . i. [Fr. délibérer .] Το deliberate, to consult. "For which he gan deliberen for the best." Chaucer. Troilus , iv. 141. dě-lib-er-āte, v. i. & t. [DELIBERATE, a . Fr. délibérer; Sp. & Port. deliberar ; Ital. deli be rare ; Lat. delibero = to consult: de (intens.), libro = to weigh: libra a balance.] A. Intransitive : 1320 1. To weigh matters in the mind; to ponder, to balance the reasons for and against any course; to estimate the weight of reasons or arguments; to debate, to consult. 2. To hesitate. "The woman that deliberates is lost." Add is on: Cato, iv. 1. B. Trans.: To weigh or balance in the mind; to debate. if you shall not be firm to deliberated counsels, they which are bound to serve you may seek and find opportunities to serve themselves upon you."- Abp . Laud: Sermons , p. 226. For the difference between to deliberate and to consult, see CONSULT; for that between to deliberate and to debate , see DEBATE.