| deviometer | A form of strabismometer. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| devise | 1. The act of giving or disposing of real estate by will; sometimes improperly applied to a bequest of personal estate. 2. A will or testament, conveying real estate; the clause of a will making a gift of real property. "Fines upon devises were still exacted." (Bancroft) 3. Property devised, or given by will. Origin: OF. Devise division, deliberation, wish, will, testament. See Device. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| devitalise | To deprive of vitality or of vital properties. (05 Mar 2000) |
| devitalised | Devoid of life; dead. (05 Mar 2000) |
| devitalised tooth | A misnomer for a pulpless tooth. (05 Mar 2000) |
| devitalization | 1. Deprivation of vitality or of vital properties. 2. In dentistry, the process by which tooth pulp is destroyed; e.g., by chemical means, by infection, or by extirpation. (05 Mar 2000) |
| devitrification | The act or process of devitrifying, or the state of being devitrified. Specifically, the conversion of molten glassy matter into a stony mass by slow cooling, the result being the formation of crystallites, microbites, etc, in the glassy base, which are then called devitrification products. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| devolution | A continuing process of degeneration or breaking down, in contrast to evolution. See: involution, catabolism. Origin: L. De-volvo, pp. -volutus, to roll down (05 Mar 2000) |
| devon | One of a breed of hardy cattle originating in the country of Devon, England. Those of pure blood have a deep red colour. The small, longhorned variety, called North Devons, is distinguished by the superiority of its working oxen. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| devonian | <geology> Of or pertaining to Devon or Devonshire in England; as, the Devonian rocks, period, or system. <geology> Devonian age, the age next older than the Carboniferous and later than the Silurian; called also the Age of fishes. The various strata of this age compose the Devonian formation or system, and include the old red sandstone of Great Britain. They contain, besides plants and numerous invertebrates, the bony portions of many large and remarkable fishes of extinct groups. See the Diagram under Geology. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| Devonshire colic | Severe colicky abdominal pain, with constipation, symptomatic of lead poisoning. Synonym: Devonshire colic, painter's colic, Poitou colic, saturnine colic. (05 Mar 2000) |
| devote | 1. To appropriate by vow; to set apart or dedicate by a solemn act; to consecrate; also, to consign over; to doom; to evil; to devote one to destruction; the city was devoted to the flames. "No devoted thing that a man shall devote unto the Lord . . . Shall be sold or redeemed." (Lev. Xxvii. 28) 2. To execrate; to curse. 3. To give up wholly; to addict; to direct the attention of wholly or compound; to attach; often with a reflexive pronoun; as, to devote one's self to science, to one's friends, to piety, etc. "Thy servant who is devoted to thy fear." (Ps. Cxix. 38) "They devoted themselves unto all wickedness." (Grew) "A leafless and simple branch . . . Devoted to the purpose of climbing." (Gray) Synonym: To addict, apply, dedicate, consecrate, resign, destine, doom, consign. See Addict. Origin: L. Devotus, p. P. Of devovere; de + vovere to vow. See Vow, and cf. Devout, Devow. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| devour | 1. To eat up with greediness; to consume ravenously; to feast upon like a wild beast or a glutton; to prey upon. "Some evil beast hath devoured him." (Gen. Xxxvii. 20) 2. To seize upon and destroy or appropriate greedily, selfishly, or wantonly; to consume; to swallow up; to use up; to waste; to annihilate. "Famine and pestilence shall devour him." (Ezek. Vii. 15) "I waste my life and do my days devour." (Spenser) 3. To enjoy with avidity; to appropriate or take in eagerly by the senses. "Longing they look, and gaping at the sight, Devour her o'er with vast delight." (Dryden) Synonym: To consume, waste, destroy, annihilate. Origin: F. Devorer, fr. L. Devorare; de + vorare to eat greedily, swallow up. See Voracious. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| devout | 1. Devoted to religion or to religious feelings and duties; absorbed in religious exercises; given to devotion; pious; reverent; religious. "A devout man, and one that feared God." (Acts x. 2) "We must be constant and devout in the worship of God." (Rogers) 2. Expressing devotion or piety; as, eyes devout; sighs devout; a devout posture. 3. Warmly devoted; hearty; sincere; earnest; as, devout wishes for one's welfare. The devout, devoutly religious persons, those who are sincerely pious. Synonym: Holy, pure, religious, prayerful, pious, earnest, reverent, solemn, sincere. Origin: OE. Devot, devout, F. Devot, from L. Devotus devoted, p. P. Of devovere. See Devote. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |