dastard (dastard)

and a. [ IMG:content-2068.png:[blocks in formation] 2. A base coward; a poltroon; one who meanly shrinks from danger, or who performs malicious actions in a cowardly, sneaking manner. This dastard , at the battle of Patay, Before we met, or that a stroke was given, Like to a trusty squire did run away. Shak., 1 Hen. VI., iv. 1. But ill the dastard kept his oath, Whose cowardice hath undone us both. Scott, Marmion, ii. 92. =Syn. 2. Poltroon, Craven, etc. See coward. II. a. Characterized by base cowardice; meanly shrinking from danger, or from the consequences of malicious acts. Curse on their dastard souls! Add is on. At this paltry price did the dastard prince consent to stay his arm at the only moment when it could be used effectively for his country. Pre scott, Ferd. and Isa., i. 13. dastard (das'tärd), v. t. [ make dastard; intimidate; dispirit. There is another man within me, that's angry with me, rebukes, commands, and dastards me. Dasyproctidæ lily-like, with numerous crowded leaves.] A liliaceous genus of Mexico and adjacent parts of the United States, allied to Yucca, with a dense rosette of rigid, linear, often spinosely toothed leaves, and a tall stem bearing a panicle of small white flowers. There are nearly 20 species, some of which are occasionally cultivated for ornament. manometer. dasymeter (da-sim'e-tér), n. [ μέτρον , measure.] An instrument de- signed for testing the density of gases. See Dasyornis (das-i-ôr'nis), n. [NL. (Vigors and Hors field, 1826), δασύς , shaggy, hairy, + όρνις , a bird.] A genus of dentirostral oscine pa erine birds of the malurine group, inhabit- ing Australia, New Zealand, Africa, etc. The species composing the genus as originally proposed are now distributed in the genera Sphenura and Megalurus (or Sphenœacus ). Dasypædes (das-i-pē dēz), n. [NL., παῖς , pl. pl. παῖδες , child. Coined by Sun devall in 1873 as an alternative to Ptilo- pædes , this being liable to confusion with Psilo- pædes .] Same as Ptilopædes . dasy dasypædic (das-i-pē'dik), a . [As Dasypædes + -ic.] Same as ptilopædic . Sir T. Browne, Religio Medici, ii. 7. Dasypeltidæ (das-i-pel'ti-dē), n. pl. [NL., Dryden , Indian Emperor, ii. 2. Dastards manly souls with hope and fear. 2. To call one dastard or coward. [Rare in both uses.] dastard i cet (das'tär-dis), [ ne . want of following my blows. dastardize (das'tär-dīz), v. t.; pret. and pp. dastard i zed, ppr. dastard i zing. [ I believe it is not in the Power of Plowden to dastardize or cow your Spirits until you have overcome him. Howell , Letters, I. 1. 9. For if he liv'd, and we were conquerors, He had such things to urge against our marriage As, now declar'd, would blunt my sword in battle, And dastardize my courage. Dryden, Don Sebastian, ii. 2. dastardline (das'tärd-li-nes), n. ne . Cowardli IMG:content-2069.png:[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors] If Dryden is never dastardly , as Pope often was, so also he never wrote anything so maliciously depreciatory as Pope's unprovoked attack on Add is on. Lowell , Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 70.