Dike

dlk, n. A ditch; channel for water made by digging bank thrown up to exclude water from low lands. (Geol.) A wall-like ma of mineral matter, filling up fi ures in the original 6trat a. — v. [diked (dikt), dikixg.] To surround, protect, or drain by dikes. [AS. die, D. Ic. diki, Dan. dige, Sw. dike, dike; Gr. teichos, Skr. dehi, mound, rampart; ditch, dig, dough.] Dilapidate, dl-lap'T-dat, To suffer to fall into decay or partial ruin to diminish by waste and abuse, squander, — v. To get out of repair, become decayed, go to ruin. [L. dilapidare, -datum, — to scatter like stones, dis and lapis, a stone.] Dilap-'ida'tion, n. Act of, or state of being, etc.; ecclesiastical waste. — Dilap'idator, n. One who causes dilapidation. Dilate, dT-laf or di-lat', To enlarge or extend in all directions, expand, distend, spread out, amplify, expatiate. — v. To expand, swell; to 6peak largely and copiously, expatiate, descant. [OF. dilater, L. dilatus, spread abroad, dis and lat us, p. p. of/erre,to carry.] — Dilafer, n. — Dila'- tion, n. Act of, or state of being, etc.; expansion. — Dil'ata'tion, n. Same as dilation. [OF.] — Dila'- table, a. — Dila'tabil'ity, n. — Dila'tive, a. Causing dilatation. — Dilat'or, n. That which expands; a muscle that dilates any part. — Dil'atory, -to-rl, a. Inclined to put off what ought to be done at once; given to, or marked with procrastination; intended to make delay, or to gain time and defer action; sluggish; backward; tardy. — Dil'atorily, adv.— Dir at or in e , n. Dilemma, dl-lem'ma or dl-lern'ma, n. {Logic.) An argument which affords an antagonist alternatives, but is conclusive against him, whichever alternative he chooses. A perplexing state difficult or doubtful choice. [L. and Gr., Gr. dia, between, and lambanein, to take.] Dilettant, dil-et-tanf, -tante, -tan'ta, n. pi. -tanti, An admirer of the fine arts an amateur esp. one who follows an art desultorily, without serious purpose, or for amusement. dilettante, p. pr. of delettare, L. delectare, to delight.] — Dilettan'teism. -ta-izm, n. Quality of being, etc. Diligent, dil'T-]ent, a. Interestedly and perseveringly attentive steady in application to busine prosecuted with care and constant effort a iduous sedulous industrious careful. [L. diligens, p. pr. of dUigere, to esteem highly, fr. dis and legere, to select.] — Diligently, adv. — Diligence, -jens, n. Quality of being, etc.; a iduity; industry.