n. (pl. -cuses) heavy thick-centred disc thrown in athletic events. [latin from greek]

adj. - gloomy; miserable.

- dreary; sombre.

- colloq. Feeble, inept (dismal attempt). dismally adv. [medieval latin dies mali unlucky days]

—n. Intense disappointment or despair. —v. Fill with dismay. [french from germanic: related to *dis-, *may]

v. Deny or give up any connection with; repudiate.

v. (-ll-) drive away; scatter (fears etc.). [latin pello drive]

v. (us distill) (-ll-) 1 purify or extract the essence from (a substance) by vaporizing and condensing it and collecting the resulting liquid.

- extract the essential meaning of (an idea etc.).

- make (whisky, essence, etc.) By distilling raw materials.

- fall or cause to fall in drops. distillation n. [latin: related to *de-, stillo drip]

—n. Disused state. —v. (-sing) cease to use.

—v. - hesitate; be indecisive.

- tremble; quiver. —n. Colloq. State of agitation or hesitation. ditherer n. Dithery adj. [var. Of didder *dodder1]

adj. Archaic various; several. [latin: related to *diverse]

v. - a turn aside; deflect. B distract (attention).

- (often as diverting adj.) Entertain; amuse. [latin: related to *diverse]