The Meta-Encyclopedia

Single-source entries: D (46)

Each of these 12 subjects appears in only one of the 6 encyclopedias on this shelf. None is long enough to carry a page by itself, so they are gathered here by letter. Anything that grows moves out to a page of its own.

Dirk-Hartog Island

on the W. coast of Australia, 45 miles long N. to S. and 10 miles broad.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Dirt-Beds

a name given to certain dark-colored loam-like beds, which occur interstratified with Oölitic limestones and sandstones of Portland, England. They contain not only Cycadeæ, but also stumps of trees in an erect position, with their roots extending beneath them. Stems of trees are also found prostrate. Dirt-beds occur also in parts of the Mississippi basin.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Disc

an organ consisting of certain bodies or projections situated between the base of the stamens and that of the ovary, but constituting no part of either. The most common form is that of a fleshy ring, either entire or variously lobed, surrounding the base of the ovary, Sometimes as in lamium, orobanche, etc. it is a cup, as in pæonia.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Disciple

literally, one who learns anything from another; and hence, the followers of any teacher, philosopher, or head of a sect. In this sense the word is as when we sometimes used in Scripture, read of the disciples of Moses, of John, of Christ. Generally, however, it is used with reference to the last of these-the followers of Jesus. Sometimes all who received the doctrines of Christ are called disciples. It is used as synonymous with apostle, and is applied to the Twelve.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Disco

an island on the W. coast of Greenland, under the parallel of 70° N. It is mountainous, reaching a height of 3,000 feet; has a total length of about 90 miles; and contains much excellent coal. The harbor of Godhavn is on the S. coast.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Discobolus

in classical antiquity, antiquity , a thrower of a discus, or quoit; a quoitplayer; specifically: the name given to the famous Greek statue of the quoitthrower, preserved among the Townley Marbles in the British Museum. In ichthyology a name given by Cuvier to his third family of soft-finned teleostean fishes, having the ventral fins under the pectoral. The name is derived from the ventral fins forming a disk on the under surface of the body, by which the fishes are enabled to catch hold on the points of rocks.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Discord

in music, a combination of notes which produces a certain restless craving in the mind for some further combination upon which it can rest with satisfaction. Discords comprise such chords as contain notes which are next to cach other in alphabetical order, and such as have augmented or diminished intervals, with the exception in the latter case of the chord of the sixth and third on the second note of any key. The changed combination which must follow them, in order to relieve the sense of pain they produce, is called the resolution. In fine arts, a term applied to paintings when there is a disagreement of the parts or coloring.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Discordia

Known to the Greeks as Eris . A malevolent deity, daughter of Nox, and sister to Nemesis , the Parcae, and Death. She was driven from heaven by Jupiter because she sowed dissensions among the gods. At the nuptials of Peleus and Thetis she threw an apple among the gods, inscribed with the words Detur pulchriori, which was the primary cause of the ruin of Troy, and of infinite misfortunes to the Greeks.

Only in 1000 Classical Characters

Discount

a deduction made in the payment of a bill or settlement of an account for ready or prompt payment; a sum deducted at a certain rate per cent. from the credit price of any article in consideration of prompt payment. The term discount is applied both to the amount deducted and the rate per cent. at which the deduction is calculated or allowed. Discount in banking is a charge made at a certain rate per cent. for the interest of money advanced on a bill or other document due at some future time. This charge the discounter deducts from the amount of the bill, handing over the balance to the borrower; a deduction from the present value of a security, the payment ent of which is postponed. The rate of discount depends on, and is regulated by, the market value of money.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Discus

DISC, or DISK, among the Greeks and Romans a quoit of stone or metal, convex on both its sides, sometimes perforated in the middle. The players aimed at no mark, but simply tried to throw the quoit to the greatest possible distance. It was sometimes furnished with a thong of leather to assist in the throwing. The throwing of the discus was a notable feature of the revival of the Olympian Games at Athens in 1896. In these games the discusthrowing event was won by Robert Garrett, of Princeton University, who far outclassed all the foreign competitors.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Dishonor

in commerce and banking, a default of payment. If, when a bill is presented for acceptance, the person on whom it is drawn refuses to accept it, or if, when presented for payment, the acceptor refuses to pay it, or if a promissory note is not paid when it falls due, such default is termed dishonor; and the holder of the bill or note is bound to give notice to the parties who drew the bill or note or to those who have negotiated it. This notice is called notice of dishonor or protest, and if the holder fails to give notice of the same, the parties who would otherwise have been responsible are discharged from their liability.

Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia

Disinfectant

a substance or an agent relied upon to kill or render powerless the microbes and germs which produce diseases. The reader may consult the articles on BACTERIUM and DISEASE for some notion of the relation the former bear to the latter. A disinfectant is sometimes called a germicide. The best disinfectants or germ killers of all are sunlight and air. Most germs wither and die in bright light and pure air. Heat is a germ killer. Sufficient heat in any form-dry, boiling, steaming, or burning-kills microbes. Freezing kills many germs, but the typhoid bacillus lives for months in solid ice. Among chemical germ killers the best general agent is chloride of lime. It is not expensive. Three pounds of chloride to eight gallons of water makes a solution that kills all common germs. Common whitewash is excellent. Corrosive sublimate highly diluted in say 1,000 parts of water is a certain but unpleasant and even dangerous disinfectant. Carbolic acid , in the proportion of a fourth of a pound to a gallon of water, is efficient in most cases. Fumes of burning sulphur are exceedingly disagreeable. They spoil the appearance of furniture and are not regarded as efficient. Formaldehyde gas is the disinfecting agency used by health officers in fumigating rooms and houses to cleanse them from germs of contagious disease. See Drugs ; Disease ; Bacterium

Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia