Diatonic
a term used in the science of music, orignally from the Greek, meaning "by-tones," or "from tone to tone." The diatonic species of the ancient Greeks-as distinguished from their chromatic and enharmonic species formed the foundation of their whole system of music, and was arranged in tetra-chords (embryo scales) composed of one semi-tone and two whole tones. In modern music, the term is applied to (1) the natural or normal scale, major or minor, which proceeds mainly by whole tones; (2) the different species of intervals (usually reckoned as 14 in number) occurring between the various notes of that scale; and (3) music written wholly or for the most part in that scale.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Diaz
de'as, Porfirio, president of the Republic of Mexico. He was born at Oaxaca (wa-ha'ka) of an Indian mother, September 15, 1830. He is twenty-seven years to a day older than President Taft. He was educated in a local "college," and was a student of law when the Mexican War came on. He has been practically the government of Mexico since 1876. He has given the Mexicans freedom from revolution, security of life and property, and has encouraged the investment of American money in Mexican projects. He is a type of a "beneficent" one-man power. As he is still living, the following outline will serve a temporary purpose. It may be noted that Diaz was a man of action: 1830--Born in Oaxaca, the son of an Indian mother. 1846--Enlisted in the war against the United States . 1854--Took part in the revolt against Santa Anna . 1858--Supported Juarez in war of reform. 1859--Opposed the French in the war of intervention. 1863--Was captured by the French but escaped. 1867--Forced Maximilian to surrender City of Mexico. 1867--Was candidate for president, but defeated by Juarez. 1871--Was proscribed by Lerdo, the successor of Juarez. 1876--Repudiated Lerdo and led revolution to victory. 1876--Was made provisional president in November. 1877--Regularly elected president for three-year term. 1880--Secured election of Gonzales as his successor. 1880-84--Served in cabinet as senator and governor of Oaxaca. 1884--Again elected president and re-elected regularly ever since.
Only in Aiton's Encyclopedia
Diaz
or DIAS, BARTOLOMEU, a Portugues navigator of noble birth who flourished during the latter half of the 15th century. In August, 1486, the king gave him the command of two vessels with a view to following up the discoveries already made by Portuguese on the W. coast of Africa. Diaz soon reached the limit which had been attained in South Atlantic navigation, and first touched land in 26° S. lat. Driven by a violent storm, he sailed round the S. extremity of Africa without immediately mmediately realizing the fact, and discovered Algoa Bay. The discontent of his crew compelled him to return; and arriving in Lisbon, December, 1487, he was at first greeted with enthusiasm, but soon saw Vasco da Gama preferred before him, and was compelled to act under the latter in the expedition of 1497. Three years after, he joined the expedition of Cabral, the discoverer of Brazil, but was lost in a storm May 29, 1500.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Diaz
GENERAL ARMANDO, in November, 1922, appointed Minister of War in the cabinet of Benito Mussolini.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Diaz (ARMANDO an Italian general)
ARMANDO, an Italian general. He was born in 1861, and was educated at the Military College, Turin. He served in the Libyan War and won distinction in the World War. Following the great Italian retreat from the Isonzo river in October and November, 1917, General Diaz was appointed to succeed as commander-in-chief General Cadorna who, after being removed, was made one of the members of the general staff created by the Supreme War Council. Diaz commanded the operations that stopped the Austro-Germans at the Piave, after they had taken 300,000 prisoners and occupied 4,000 square miles of Italian territory. General Diaz continued as commander-in-chief to the end of the war.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Diaz (PORFIRIO d th a Mexican)
PORFIRIO (dē'äth), a Mexican statesman; born in Oaxaca, Sept. 15, PORFIRIO DIAZ 1830; received a classical education at the Oaxaca Institute, and had begun studying law when the war with the United States broke out; served through that struggle in the National Guard, and on the conclusion of peace made a study of military science. On Santa Ana's accession to the dictatorship, he left the army and practiced law, but returned and bore a conspicuous part in the revolution of 1854; took the field to oppose the French troops and was taken prisoner, but made his escape; harassed Maximilian's troops till forced to surrender a second time at Oaxaca in 1865; besieged and captured Puebla in 1867, and immediately marched on Mexico City, which surrendered to him June 21. On the re-establishment of the republic he was an unsuccessful candidate for president. In 1872 and 1876 he led revolutions against the government, and occupied the capital in the latter year. In 1877 he was elected president. According to the "plan of Tuxtepec," which he had proclaimed, he was ineligible to succeed himself. His secretary, General Gonzales, was elected president, and General Diaz was appointed Chief-Justice of the Supreme Court, and elected governor of Oaxaca. In 1884 he was re-elected president; in 1886 his partisans secured the abolition of the law prohibiting a second consecutive presidential term, and he was thereafter continuously re-elected for seven consecutive terms. He abdicated May 22, 1911, and died in July 1915.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Diaz Del Castillo
BERNAL (dē'äth del käs-tē yō), a Spanish chronicler of the conquest of Mexico; born about 1498; died in Mexico about 1593. His "True History of the Discovery and Conquest of New Spain" was published at Madrid in 1632.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dibranchiata
an order of cephalopods characterized by the possession of two gills only, and by the fact that the shell, if external, as is rarely the case, is never chambered. It includes the cuttlefishes, squids, and paper nautilus. The order contains two sections, octopoda and decapoda.
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia
Dice
small cubes of ivory marked on their sides with black dots, from one to six. The points on the opposite sides of the dice should always sum seven-i. e., ace should be opposite to six (pronounced size); deuce to cinque (pronounced sanke); and trey to quatre (pronounced kater). The invention of dice is attributed to Palamedes (circa 1244 b. c.).
Only in Collier's New Encyclopedia