defiler, defyler

[Eng. defil (e); -er.] One who defiles; a corrupter, violator, or debaucher. "Thou bright defiler Of Hymen's purest bed! thou valiant Mars!" Shakesp.: Timon of Athens, iv. 3. de-fil-ing (1), pr. par., a. & s. [DEFILE (1), v.] A. & B. As pr. par. & particip. adj.: (See the verb.) C. As subst.: The act of befouling, polluting, or violating; defilement. de-fil-ing (2), pr. par., a. & s. [DEFILE (2), v.] A. & B. As pr. par. & particip. adj.: (See the verb.) C. As subst.: The act of filing off, or marching file by file. de-fin'-a-ble, *dě-fi ne-a-ble, a. [Eng. def in (e); 1. Capable of being defined in words. -able .] IMG:content-2028.png:[blocks in formation] de-fi'ne, *de-fyne, *dif-fyne, v . t . & i. [O. Fr. definer; Fr. définir , from Lat. definio =to limit, to define: de down, and finis a limit, a boundary.] A. Transitive : 1. To determine or describe the limits or bounds of. 2. To circumscribe; to bound; to mark the limit. "When the rings appeared only black and white, they were very distinct and well defined,."- Newton : Optics. *3. To determine, to decide, to settle. "A more ready way to define controversies."- Barrow On the Pope's Supremacy. 4. To give a definition of; to explain anything by its qualities and circumstances. "It [gravity was no better, but often worse, than what a French wit had long ago defined it."- Sterne : Tristram Shandy , ch. xi. 5 To explain or state the particular properties or circumstances of anything; to describe with precision; as, to define an angle. *B. Intransitive : 1. To determine, to decide, to conclude. "The unjust judge is the capital remover of landmarks, when he defineth ami of lands and properties."- Bacon . 2. To give a definition; to explain anything by its qualities and circumstances. "But I haue defined , that blisfulne is souerain good, "-Chaucer. Boethius, bk. iii. IMG:content-2029.png:[blocks in formation] 2. Determined or explained by a definition; hav- ing its qualities and circumstances explained. *de-fine-ment, s. [Eng. define; -ment.] De- script i on, definition. "His definement suffers no perdition in you." Shakesp.: Hamlet, v. 2. dě-fin-er, 8. [Eng. def in(e); -er.] One who describes the qualities and circumstances of any defines, determines, or explains anything; one who thing. "Let your imperfect definition show, That nothing you the weak definer know." Prior. de-fin-Ing, pr . par ., a. & s. [DEFINE.] A. & B. As pr . par . & particip. adj.: (See the verb.) C. As subst.: The act or proce of explaining or determining; a definition. A. As adjective: I. Ordinary Language: nate. IMG:content-2030.png:[blocks in formation] "For idiots, in this case of favor, would Be wisely definite." Shakesp.: Cymbeline, i. 6. II. Technically : 1. Gram .: [DEFINITE ARTICLE.] 2. Log .: [DEFINITE TERM.] 3. Chem .: (DEFINITE PROPORTIONS.] 4. Bot.: The same as terminal or centrifugal. Terminating in a single flower. When stamens are under twenty they are said to be definite. ( Bal four. ) [1 [DEFINITE INFLORESCENCE.] Crabb thus discriminates between definite and positive: "The understanding and reasoning powers are connected with what is definite : the will with what is positive . A definite answer leaves nothing to be explained: a positive answer leaves no room for hesitation or question. It is nece ary to be definite in giving instructions, and to be positive in giving commands. A person who is definite in his proceedings with another puts a stop to all unreas. onable expectations; it is nece ary for those who have to exercise authority to positive , in order to enforce obedience from the self-willed and contumacious." (Crabb: Eng. Synon.) *B. As subst.: Anything defined, determined or explained. the general, again, is nothing else but a defi nite of the special." -Auliffe. definite article, s. Gram.: The article or demonstrative adjective the , so called because it defines or limits the noun to which it belongs. In the oldest English it was inflected like an adjective for number, gender, and case. [THE, ARTICLE.]