1. Anything consisting of two leaves. Especially: (a) (Roman Antiq.) A writing tablet consisting of two
leaves of rigid material connected by hinges and shutting together so as to protect the writing within.
(b) A picture or series of pictures painted on two tablets connected by hinges. See Triptych.
2. A double catalogue, containing in one part the names of living, and in the other of deceased, ecclesiastics
and benefactors of the church; a catalogue of saints.
Dipyre
(Di*pyre") n. [Gr. di- = di`s- twice fire.] (Min.) A mineral of the scapolite group; — so called
from the double effect of fire upon it, in fusing it, and rendering it phosphorescent.
Dipyrenous
(Di`py*re"nous) a. [Pref. di- + pyrene.] (Bot.) Containing two stones or nutlets.
Dipyridine
(Di*pyr"i*dine) n. [Pref. di- + pyridine.] (Geom.) A polymeric form of pyridine, C10H10N2,
obtained as a colorless oil by the action of sodium on pyridine.
Dipyridyl
(Di*pyr"i*dyl) n. [Pref. di- + pyridine + -yl.] (Chem.) A crystalline nitrogenous base, C10H8N2,
obtained by the reduction of pyridine.
Diradiation
(Di*ra`di*a"tion) n. [Pref. di- + radiation.] The emission and diffusion of rays of light.
Dire
(Dire) a. [Compar. Direr ; superl. Direst.] [L. dirus; of uncertain origin.]
1. Ill-boding; portentous; as, dire omens.
2. Evil in great degree; dreadful; dismal; horrible; terrible; lamentable.
Dire was the tossing, deep the groans.
Milton.
Gorgons and hydras and chimeras dire.
Milton. Direct
(Di*rect") a. [L. directus, p. p. of dirigere to direct: cf. F. direct. See Dress, and cf. Dirge.]
1. Straight; not crooked, oblique, or circuitous; leading by the short or shortest way to a point or end; as, a
direct line; direct means.
What is direct to, what slides by, the question.
Locke. 2. Straightforward; not of crooked ways, or swerving from truth and openness; sincere; outspoken.
Be even and direct with me.
Shak. 3. Immediate; express; plain; unambiguous.
He nowhere, that I know, says it in direct words.
Locke.
A direct and avowed interference with elections.
Hallam. 4. In the line of descent; not collateral; as, a descendant in the direct line.
5. (Astron.) In the direction of the general planetary motion, or from west to east; in the order of the
signs; not retrograde; — said of the motion of a celestial body.
Direct action. (Mach.) See Direct- acting. — Direct discourse (Gram.), the language of any one
quoted without change in its form; as, he said "I can not come;" — correlative to indirect discourse, in
which there is change of form; as, he said that he could not come. They are often called respectively
by their Latin names, oratio directa, and oratio obliqua. — Direct evidence (Law), evidence which is
positive or not inferential; — opposed to circumstantial, or indirect, evidence. — This distinction, however,
