Dis sympathy

Lack of sympathy; indifference. (R.) Dis'taff, n. [A. S. distæf, corrupted from toro, and stæf, a staff. See Tow.] The staff to which a bunch of Distastefully, adv. In a distasteful manner. tow or flax is fastened, and from which the thread is drawn in spinning. Before the invention of machinery for the purpose of spinning threads, the D. was much used, but it is now, except in very rare cases, superseded. The D. was dedicated to Pallas; and the Fates are al ways represented with Fig . 836.-DISTAFF. it, and as engaged in spinning the thread of life. It has ever been considered as the peculiar emblem of feminine (as opposed to male) occupations, and has come to be used figuratively for a woman. Thus, the French say, "The crown of France never falls to the distaff ."