Chapter Delphine to Demeanor of D by Webster's Dictionary (1913 Edition)

Syn. — Delusion, Illusion. These words both imply some deception practiced upon the mind. Delusion is deception from want of knowledge; illusion is deception from morbid imagination. An illusion is a false show, a mere cheat on the fancy or senses. It is, in other words, some idea or image presented to the bodily or mental vision which does not exist in reality. A delusion is a false judgment, usually affecting the real concerns of life. Or, in other words, it is an erroneous view of something which exists indeed, but has by no means the qualities or attributes ascribed to it. Thus we speak of the illusions of fancy, the illusions of hope, illusive prospects, illusive appearances, etc. In like manner, we speak of the delusions of stockjobbing, the delusions of honorable men, delusive appearances in trade, of being deluded by a seeming excellence.

"A fanatic, either religious or political, is the subject of strong delusions; while the term illusion is applied solely to the visions of an uncontrolled imagination, the chimerical ideas of one blinded by hope, passion, or credulity, or lastly, to spectral and other ocular deceptions, to which the word delusion is never applied." Whately.

Delusional
(De*lu"sion*al) a. Of or pertaining to delusions; as, delusional monomania.

Delusive
(De*lu"sive) a. [See Delude.] Apt or fitted to delude; tending to mislead the mind; deceptive; beguiling; delusory; as, delusive arts; a delusive dream.

Delusive and unsubstantial ideas.

Whewell.

— De*lu"sive*ly, adv. — De*lu"sive*ness, n.

Delusory
(De*lu"so*ry) a. Delusive; fallacious. Glanvill.

Delve
(Delve) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Delved ; p. pr. & vb. n. Delving.] [AS. delfan to dig; akin to OS. bidelban to bury, D. delven to dig, MHG. telben, and possibly to E. dale. Cf. Delf a mine.]

1. To dig; to open (the ground) as with a spade.

Delve of convenient depth your thrashing floor.

Dryden.

2. To dig into; to penetrate; to trace out; to fathom.

I can not delve him to the root.

Shak.

Delve
(Delve), v. i. To dig or labor with a spade, or as with a spade; to labor as a drudge.

Delve may I not: I shame to beg.

Wyclif

Delve
(Delve), n. [See Delve, v. t., and cf. Delf a mine.] A place dug; a pit; a ditch; a den; a cave.

Which to that shady delve him brought at last.

Spenser.

The very tigers from their delves
Look out.

Moore.

Delver
(Delv"er) n. One who digs, as with a spade.

Demagnetize
(De*mag"net*ize) v. t.

1. To deprive of magnetic properties. See Magnetize.

If the bar be rapidly magnetized and demagnetized.

Am. Cyc.

2. To free from mesmeric influence; to demesmerize.