An admiral is standing by a candy machine at the Naval Academy in Annapolis when he stops a plebe walking by.
- "Sailor, do you have change for a dollar?"
- "Sure, buddy," - says the plebe, rooting around his pocket.
- "That"s no way to address an officer! Now let"s try it again. Do you have change for a dollar?"
The plebe snaps to attention and barks,
- "No, sir!"
adj. (also dextrous) having or showing dexterity. dexterously adv. Dexterousness n.
DIABOLISM
n. - worship of the devil.
- sorcery. [greek: related to *devil]
DIACONATE
n. - position of deacon.
- body of deacons.
DIACRITIC
n. Sign (e.g. An accent or cedilla) indicating different sounds or values of a letter. [greek: related to *critic]
DIAERESIS
n. (pl. Diaereses) (us dieresis) mark (as in naïve) over a vowel to indicate that it is sounded separately. [greek, = separation]
DIAGNOSIS
n. (pl. Diagnoses) 1 a identification of a disease from its symptoms. B formal statement of this.
- identification of the cause of a mechanical fault etc. [greek gignosko recognize]
DIALECTIC
n. - art of investigating the truth by discussion and logical argument.
- process whereby contradictions merge to form a higher truth.
- any situation or discussion involving the juxtaposition or conflict of opposites. [greek: related to *dialect]
DIAPHRAGM
n. - muscular partition between the thorax and abdomen in mammals.
- = *dutch cap.
- a photog. Plate or disc pierced with a circular hole to cut off marginal beams of light. B vibrating disc in a microphone, telephone, loudspeaker, etc.
- device for varying the lens aperture in a camera etc.
- thin sheet as a partition etc. [greek phragma fence]
DIARRHOEA
n. (esp. Us diarrhea) condition of excessively frequent and loose bowel movements. [greek rheo flow]
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