Chapter Dircæ'an Swan to Distraction of D by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Discipline (A). A scourge used by Roman Catholics for penitential purposes.

"Before the cross and altar a lamp was still burning, and on the floor lay a small discipline or penitential scourge of small cord and wire, the lashes of which were stained with recent blood." - Sir W Scott: The Talisman. chap. iv

Discord means severance of hearts (Latin, discorda). It is the opposite of concord, the coming together of hearts. In music it means disagreement of sounds, as when a note is followed by another which is disagreeable to a musical ear. (See Apple.)

Discount At a discount. Not in demand; little valued; less esteemed than formerly; less than their nominal value. (Latin dis-computo, to depreciate.)

Discuss To discuss a bottle. To drink one with a friend. Same as "crush " or "crack a bottle." (Discuss is the Latin dis-quatio; French, casser. The Latin quassa're vasa is to break a drinking-vessel.)

"We all ... drew round the table, an austere silence prevailing, while we discussed our meal."- E. Brontë: Wuthering Heights, chap. ii.

Disease meaning discomfort, want of ease, mal aise, as

"In the world ye shall have disease." -Wyclif: John xvi. 33.

Dished (l syl.). I was dished out of it. Cheated out of it; or rather, some one else contrived to obtain it. A contraction of disherit. The heir is dish't out of his inheritance when his father marries again and leaves his property to the widow and widow's family.

"Where's Brummel? Dished!"
Byron: Don Juan.

Dish-washer (A). A scullery-maid.

Dismal Daniel Finch, second earl of Nottingham.

"No sooner was Dismal among the Whigs ... but Lady Char[lot]te is taken knitting in St.James's Chapel [i.e. Lady Charlotte Finch, his daughter]." - Examiner, April 20-24th, 1713, No.44.

Dismas (St.). The penitent thief. [DYSMAS.]

Disney Professor The Professor of Archaeology in the University of Cambridge. This chair was founded in 1851 by John Disney, Esq., of the Hyde, Ingatestone.

Disorder says Franklin, "breakfasts with Plenty, dines with Poverty, sups with Misery, and sleeps with Death."

Dispensation The system which God chooses to dispense or establish between Himself and man. The dispensation of Adam was that between Adam and God; the dispensation of Abraham, and that of Moses, were those imparted to these holy men; the Gospel dispensation is that explained in the Gospels. (Latin, dis-penso, to spread forth, unroll, explain, reveal.)
A dispensation from the Pope. Permission to dispense with something enjoined; a licence to do what is forbidden, or to omit what is commanded by the law of the Church, as distinct from the moral law.

"A dispensation was obtained to enable Dr. Barrow to marry." - Ward.

Dispute (2 syl.) means, literally, to "lop down" (Latin, dis-puto); debate means to "knock down" (French, débattre); discuss means to "shake down" (Latin, dis-quatio); object' is to "cast against" (Latin, ob-jacio); contend is to "pull against" (Latin, contendo); quarrel is to throw darts at each other (Welsh, cwarel, a dart); and wrangle is to strain by twisting (Swedish, vränga; Anglo-Saxon, wringan).

Dissolute is one that runs loose, not restrained by laws or any other bonds. (Latin, dissolvo, like horses unharnessed.)