distaff woman

A spinner. "Yea, distaff - women manage rusty bills Against thy seat: both young and old rebel." Shakesp.: Richard II ., iii. 2. *dis-stā ined, *di-stained, *de-stayned, *disteigned, *de-steined, *di-stayned, pa.par.ora. [DISTAIN.] 1. Lit .: Stained, discolored. IMG:content-0201.png:[blocks in formation] insertion. A. Ordinary Language: I. Of material objects: 1. Literally: (1) The space, length, or interval between two objects, measured along the shortest line or course between them. "Gravity increases as the squares of the distances decrease." Herschel: Astronomy (5th ed.), § 531. (2) The quality of being distant or remote; remotene . ""Tis distance lends enchantment to the view." Campbell: Pleasures of Hope, i. 7. (3) In the same sense as B. 6. 2. Figuratively ( of material bodies separated by difference of opinion , feelings , tastes, depar .): (1) A disagreement, a discu ion, alienation. "When the Emperour saw swiche a di taunce amonge the systeres." -Gesta Romanorum (ed. Herrtage ), p. 134. (2) Respect; as shown in behavior by not approaching too close. Tis by respect and distance that authority is upheld." -Atterbury. (3) Reserve; coolne ; as shown in behavior by the avoiding of the society of any person. "All his distance was at once abandoned."-Lever: Dodd Family Abroad , lxviii. II. Of immaterial things: 1. Of time, .: Which these dire hands from my slain father tore." Pope : Thebais of Statius , 113, 114. 2. Fig .: Disgraced, sullied, defamed. "I live distained , thou und is honored." Shakesp.: Comedy of Errors , ii. 2. di-stā'in, *de-stayne, *de-stein, *di-stayne, *dis-teign, *di-steyne, v . t . [O. Fr. desteindre, destaindre; Fr. déteindre ; O. Fr. des=Fr. dé =Lat. dis away, apart, and teindre to stain, to tinge; Lat. tin go ; Sp. desteñir ; Port. destinger .] [STAIN, TINGE.] color. I. Lit .: To stain or tinge with any color; to dis "A purple stream of blood Distains the surface of the silver flood." Pope: Homer's Battle of the Frogs and Mice , iii. 47, 48. 3. Difference, distinction. (Scotch.) B. Technically : 2. Fencing : The space or interval kept by two antagonists in fighting. "We come to see fight; to see thy pa , thy stock, thy reverse, thy distance." -Shakesp .: Merry Wives of Wind sor , ii. 3. 3. Milit .: The space or interval preserved between men, or bodies of men, measured from front to rear. 4. Mus .: The interval between any two notes. 5. Racing : In races run in heats, a length of 240 yards from the winning-post, marked at the opposite end by the distance-post (q. v.). Any horse before the winning horse pa es the winning-post, which does not succeed in pa ing the distance-post is said to be distanced , and is thereby disqualified from taking further part in the race. 6. Surv.: The distance between two points is the length of a line joining the two points, expre ed in terms of some line which is a umed as the unit of length. Distances are distinguished as vertical dis tances, or heights; horizontal distances , or those estimated in a horizontal plane; and oblique dis tances, which are neither horizontal nor vertical. ured by the direct application of some linear unit Acce ible distances are those which may be measof measure; inacce ible distances are those which either cannot be reached, or which are inconvenunit. Such distances are determined by the measient to reach, so as to apply to these the linear urement of angles and trigonometrical rules and for mule. (1) Angular distance : The angle included bea point. Thus, if a spec tween the lines of direction of two bodies from tat or's eye be placed at the point A, and lines drawn from it to the two objects B and C, the angle BAC formed by these two lines is the angular distance of B from C. (2) Apparent distance: The apparent distance of an object is the distance which we judge an object to be from us when seen from afar off, which may be very different from the real distance. IMG:content-0202.png:[graphic] (3) Curtate distance: Astron.: [CURTATE.] Angular Distance. (4) Law of distances: [LAW.] (5) Line of distance: [DISTANCE, 8., B. 1.] (6) Mean distance : Astron.: A mean between the aphelion and perihelion distances of a planet. (7) Meridian distance : (MERIDIAN.) (8) Middle distance: [DISTANCE, 8., B. 1.] (9) Point of distance: [DISTANCE, 8., B. 1.] (10) Proportional distances: Astron. The distances of the several planets from the sun, compared with the distance of any one of them considered as a unity. (11) Real distance : The absolute distance of one body from another, as determined by any terrestrial measure, as miles, yards, . (12) At a distance : With some distance intervening, either of space or time. "To judge right of ble ings prayed for, and yet at a distance."- Smalridge . (13) From a distance : From a point distant from that looked at or intended. "The rocks of St. Paul appear from a distance of a brilliant white color."-Darwin: Voyage round the World, ch. i. (14) To keep one's distance : ( a ) To show respect; to behave respectfully. "If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is, he keeps his at the same time."- Swift . (b) To act or behave with reserve or coolne (15) To save one's distance: Racing: To pa the distance-post before the winning horse has pa ed the winning-post. "I had nothing whatever to do but to save my distance, to win the race." -Lever : Dodd Family Abroad , xiv. distance-calculator, s . General Berdan's distance - calculator , or what would be called such in range-guides, e entially consists of two telescopes, one meter apart. The two telescopes take the angles, and, the base being known, the materials for calculating distances trigonometrically exist. But with a base relatively so minute there is no likelihood of accuracy in the result, for the minutest error in angle will produce tained. a great one in the distance sought to be ascer IMG:content-0203.jpg:[blocks in formation] pine, pit, sire, sir, marine; gō, pot, 1 IMG:content-0204.png:[blocks in formation] distance-signal, s . Crabb thus discriminates between distant , far, Rail. Eng .: The most distant of the signals under and remote: " Distant is employed as an adjunct or the control of a signal-man. dis-tançe, v. t. [DISTANCE, 8.] otherwise; far is used only as an adverb. We speak of distant objects, or objects being distant ; but we speak of things only as being far . Distant is employed only for bodies at rest; far signifies gone or removed away, and is employed for bodies either stationary or otherwise; hence we say that a thing is distant , or it goes, runs, or flies far . Dis- tant is used to designate great space; far only that which is ordinary: the sun is ninety-four millions of miles distant from the earth; one person lives not very far off, or a person is far from the spot. Dis- tant is used absolutely to expre an intervening space; remote rather expre es the relative idea of being gone out of sight. A person is said to live in a distant country or in a remote corner of any coun- try. They bear a similar analogy in the figurative application; when we speak of a remote idea it designates that which is le liable to strike the mind than a distant idea. A distant relationship between individuals is never altogether lost sight of; when the connection between objects is very remote it easily escapes observation." (Crabb: Eng. Synon.) *dis-tăn-ti-all (ti as shi), *dis-tăn-cl-al, a. (Formed as if from a Lat. distant i a lis , from dis- tanti a.) Distant, remote, removed. 1. At a distance, either of space or time. "These Irish matters, though in time somewhat dis- tantly acted."-Camden: Elizabeth (an. 1580). 2. Not closely in line of consanguinity: as, a person distantly related. 3. Indirectly, not plainly or obviously. "Most distantly hint at a droll foible in his character." -Sterne: Letters, No. 3. 4. With reserve, coolne , or indifference. *dis-tant-ne , s. [Eng. distant; -ne .] Dis- "The boy's cry came to her from the field More and more distant ." Tennyson: Dora , 102, 103. IMG:content-0205.png:[blocks in formation] IMG:content-0206.png:[blocks in formation] With certain half-caps, and cold moving nods, They froze me into silence." Shakesp.: Timon , ii. 2. dis-tās te-fül-ly, adv . [Eng. distasteful ; -ly.] In a distasteful, unpleasing manner. IMG:content-0207.png:[blocks in formation] "If he distaste it, let him to our sister." Shakesp.: Lear , i. 3. (Folio.) B. In trans.: To be distasteful or unsavory. "Dang' rous conceits are in their nature poisons, Which at the first are scarce found to distaste , But, with a little act upon the blood, Burn like the mines of sulphur." Shakesp.: Othello , iii. 3 *dis-tāst-ěd, pa . par . or a . [DISTASTE, v.] dis-tās te ful, a. [Eng. distaste ; -ful ( 1 ).] *I. Lit .: Nauseous or unpleasant to the taste. "Why should you pluck the green distasteful fruit From the unwilling bough!" Dryden: Don Sebastian , iii. 1. IMG:content-0208.png:[blocks in formation] "Still, as you rise, the state, exalted too, Finds no distemper while 'tis changed by you. distemper o of strength. Several times within recent years have the various civilized countries been visited by epizootic attacks of this disorder, and in some vicinities many horses died, and busine dependent on draught animals was suspended. [EPIZOÖTIC.] For the difference between distemper and dis order, see DISORDER.