More than one of these 7 encyclopedias carries each of the following subjects — but every one of them treats it in a sentence or two and then moves on. They are gathered here so the different accounts can sit side by side.
Dinornis
Aiton's Encyclopedia: di-nor-nis, a gigantic bird of the ostrich kind. The term is Greek, meaning terrible bird. Our descriptions are based on the skeletons found in the swamps of New Zealand or buried in sand on the seashore. The species is thought to have become extinct in the eighteenth century. The largest of these birds stood from ten to fourteen feet high. They were incapable of flight. The bones are strong and solid like those of a quadruped. The thigh bones were stouter than those of a horse. It had three toes. From a single bone brought home by a scientific expedition Professor Owen of England made a drawing of this bird so successfully that subsequent finds have not made it necessary to change his description materially. A very fair skeleton is preserved in the Museum of Natural History in New York Central Park . See Ostrich
Collier's New Encyclopedia: or DEINORNIS, a genus of fossil birds, founded by Professor Owen, and published by him in 1839. Subsequent discoveries have brought to light several species of Dinornis, and some allied genera. D. giganteus was from 10 to 11 or 12 feet high; D. stuthioides was 7 feet, or the height of an ostrich of moderate size; D. dromioides 5 feet, or that of the emu; and D. didiformis 4 fcet, or between the cassowary and the dodo.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dioscuri
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the classical name for Castor and Pollux, twin brothers (Pollux being the son of Zeus) and tutelary deities of wrestlers, horsemen, and navigators. Their transplantation to the sky as one of the 12 constellations of the zodiac (the Twins) is a celebrated allegory of mythology. They are sometimes styled Tyndaride, because Tyndarus was the nominal father of both.
1000 Classical Characters: Sons of Zeus ( Jupiter ), the wellknown heroes Castor and Pollux , called by the Greeks, Polydeuces. The two brothers were sometimes called Castores by the Romans. 2026 Editor's Note: Castor and Pollux were half-brothers with different fathers—Castor mortal, Pollux divine—an example of heteropaternal superfecundation. Pollux requested Zeus allow him to share his immortality with Castor, and both were transformed into the constellation Gemini. The Dioscuri served as patrons of sailors, appearing as St. Elmo's fire, and were associated with horsemanship as Indo-European horse twins. Their cult's importance in Rome is evidenced by the Temple of Castor and Pollux in the Roman Forum, built in gratitude for victory at the Battle of Lake Regillus (495 BC). (Ed: BR 2026-06-22)
Aiton's Encyclopedia: . See Castor And Pollux
Covered by Collier's New Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters and Aiton's Encyclopedia
Diploma
Aiton's Encyclopedia: a Greek word meaning two-fold. A diploma was originally a writing on two tablets of wax, fastened face to face, and later on a sheet of parchment or paper, folded double. The Roman courier was given a diploma conferring authority to use the public horses and employes to hasten his journey. In later times, a diploma was conferred by an institute of learning on a physician or lawyer, authorizing him to practice his profession. The college diploma is more in the nature of a certificate that the bearer has completed a course of study. Of late, perhaps unfortunately, the term has been applied to certificates of graduation issued by high schools, academic schools, business colleges, and the like. The United States is the greatest diploma-granting country in the world. There is seemingly no restriction or sense of propriety in the use of the term.
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a writing or document conferring some power, authority, privilege, or honor, usually under seal and signed by a duly authorized official. Diplomas are given to graduates of a university on their taking their degrees; to clergymen who are licensed to officiate; to physicians, civil engineers, etc., authorizing them to practice their professions.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dirce
Aiton's Encyclopedia: der'se, in Greek legend, the second wife of Lycus. Lycus was a usurping monarch. He divorced his rightful wife Antiope in order to wed Dirce. Dirce was jealous of the first wife and caused her to be imprisoned. Zeus came to the aid of Antiope and released her. Her sons avenged their mother's wrongs by killing Lycus and tying Dirce to the horns of a bull--some accounts say to the tail of a horse. She was dashed to pieces on the rocks, but the gods pitied her and changed her into a spring which flows near Thebes and is called by her name. The punishment of Dirce is the subject of a famous group of statuary now in the Museum at Naples. The group is known as the Farnese Bull. See Antiope ; Farnese Bull
1000 Classical Characters: A woman whom Lycus, king of Thebes , married after he had divorced Antiope. Amphion and Zethus, sons of Antiope, for cruelties she practiced on Antiope, tied Dirce to the tail of a wild bull, by which she was dragged over rocks and precipices till the gods pitied her and changed her into a fountain.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and 1000 Classical Characters
Dis
Aiton's Encyclopedia: in Roman mythology, the god of the lower world, identified with the Greek Pluto or Hades. The word Dis is also used to designate the infernal regions. See Hades
Collier's New Encyclopedia: the Roman equivalent of the Greek Pluto. It is akin to divus, and originally denoted merely godhead or deity.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dismal Swamp
Aiton's Encyclopedia: one of a series of swamps on the Atlantic coast. The great Dismal Swamp proper is about ten miles wide and thirty long. It crosses the border line between Virginia and North Carolina . Drummond's Lake, a body of water about seven miles long, lies in its midst. A large part of the swamp was covered formerly with cypress forests, through which refugees waded knee-deep in water, running a chance of being bitten by venomous moccasin snakes at every step. Before the Civil War it was a place of refuge for escaped slaves. They made small clearings on dry bits of land surrounded by impassable jungles. They lived on provisions obtained from the neighboring plantations, and on half wild hogs, game, berries, garden truck, and fish. A picture of a settlement of this sort is given by Mrs. Stowe in her Dred. The surface of the Dismal Swamp is raised above the adjacent country by an accumulation of moss and decaying timber. Of late extensive ditches have been dug and a large part of the swamp converted into fertile, agricultural land. A north and south canal has been constructed by the national government at the expense of $1,000,000 to enable ships to make a short cut and avoid the storms met in rounding Cape Hatteras .
Collier's New Encyclopedia: a large tract of marshy land, beginning a little S. of Norfolk, Va., and extending into North Carolina; containing 150,000 acres; 30 miles long, from N. to S., and 10 broad.
Covered by Aiton's Encyclopedia and Collier's New Encyclopedia