| doris | <marine biology> A genus of nudibranchiate mollusks having a wreath of branchiae on the back. Origin: L. Doris, the daughter of Oceanus, and wife of Nereus, Gr. (19 Mar 1998) |
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| dorking fowl | <zoology> One of a breed of large-bodied domestic fowls, having five toes, or the hind toe double. There are several strains, as the white, gray, and silver-gray. They are highly esteemed for the table. Origin: From the town of Dorking in England. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dormancy | A period in which a plant does not grow, awaiting necessary environmentalconditions such as temperature, moisture, nutrient availability, etc. (09 Oct 1997) |
| dormant | A large beam in the roof of a house upon which portions of the other timbers rest or " sleep." . Called also dormant tree, dorman tree, dormond, and dormer. See: Dormant. 1. Sleeping; as, a dormant animal; hence, not in action or exercise; quiescent; at rest; in abeyance; not disclosed, asserted, or insisted on; as, dormant passions; dormant claims or titles. "It is by lying dormant a long time, or being . . . Very rarely exercised, that arbitrary power steals upon a people." (Burke) 2. In a sleeping posture; as, a lion dormant; distinguished from couchant. Dormant partner, a dormer window. See Dormer. Table dormant, a stationary table. Origin: F, p. Pr. Of dormir to sleep, from L. Dormire; cf. Gr, Skr. Dra, OSlav. Drmati. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dormitive | Causing sleep; as, the dormitive properties of opium. <medicine> A medicine to promote sleep; a soporific; an opiate. Origin: Cf. F. Dormitif, fr. Dormire to sleep. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dormouse | Origin: Perh. Fr. F. Dormir to sleep (Prov. E. Dorm to doze) + E. Mouse; or perh. Changed fr. F. Dormeuse, fem, a sleeper, though not found in the sense of a dormouse. <zoology> A small European rodent of the genus Myoxus, of several species. They live in trees and feed on nuts, acorns, etc.; so called because they are usually torpid in winter. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dorn | <zoology> A British ray; the thornback. Origin: Cf. G. Dorn thorn, D. Doorn, and G. Dornfisch stickleback. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dornase | An obsolete contraction of deoxyribonuclease. See: streptodornase. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Dorno rays | The ultraviolet ray's with wavelengths below 289 nm; those biologically active. (05 Mar 2000) |
| Dorno, Carl | <person> Swiss climatologist, 1865-1942. See: Dorno rays. (05 Mar 2000) |
| doromania | <psychiatry> An abnormal desire to give presents. Origin: G. Doron, gift, + mania, insanity (05 Mar 2000) |
| dorp | A hamlet. "A mean fishing dorp." Origin: LG. & D. Dorp. See Thorpe. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dorrfly | <zoology> See 1st Dor. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dorrhawk | <zoology> See Dorhawk. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| dorsa | Plural of dorsum. (05 Mar 2000) |