Chapter Dantesque to Davenport of D by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

hand. Lastly, Dara sent him a bitter melon, as emblem of the grief in store for him; but the Macedonian declared that he would make the Shah eat his own fruit.

Dark To keep dark. To lie perdu; to lurk in concealment. (Ang. Sax. deorc.)

"We'd get away to some of the far-out stations ... where we could keep in the dark." - Boldrewood: Robbery Under Arms, xvi.

   Keep it in the dark. Keep it a dead secret; don't enlighten anyone about the matter.

Dark Ages The era between the death of Charlemagne and the close of the Carlovingian dynasty.

Dark Continent (The). Africa, the land of the dark race or darkies.

Dark Horse (A). A racing term for a horse of good pretensions, but of which nothing is positively known by the general public. Its merits are kept dark from betters and book-makers.

"At last a Liberal candidate has entered the field at Croydon. The Conservatives have kept their candidate back, as a dark horse." - Newspaper paragraph, January, 1886.

Darkest Hour is that before the Dawn (The). When Fortune's wheel is lowest, it must turn up again. When things have come to their worst, they must mend. In Latin, Post nubila, Phoebus.

Darky A negro.

Darley Arabians A breed of English racers, from an Arab stallion introduced by Mr. Darley. This stallion was the sire of the Flying Childers, and great-grandsire of Eclipse.

Daron, Daronne (French). The sobriquet given, at the present day, by workmen to shopkeepers and cobblers.

"Il étoit maitre de tout, jusqu'à manier l'argent de la daronne." - Histoire de Guillaume, cocher.

Daronne The confidant of Elisenne, mother of Amadis, and wife of Perion des Gaules. (Amadis de Gaule.)

Dart (See Abaris .)

Darwinian Theory Charles Darwin, grandson of the poet, published in 1859 a work entitled Origin of Species, to prove that the numerous species now existing on the earth sprang originally from one or at most a few primal forms; and that the present diversity is due to special development and natural selection. Those plants and creatures which are best suited to the conditions of their existence survive and become fruitful; certain organs called into play by peculiar conditions of life grow with their growth, and strengthen with their strength, till they become so much a part and parcel of their frames as to be transmitted to their offspring. The conditions of life being very diverse, cause a great diversity of organic development, and, of course, every such diversity which has become radical is the parent of a new species. (See Evolution.)

Dash in printer's copy. One dash under a word in MS. means that the part so dashed must be printed in italics; two dashes means small capitals; three dashes, large capitals.
   Cut a dash. (See Cut.)

Dash my Wig. Dash my Buttons Dash is a euphemism for a common oath; and wig, buttons, etc., are relics of a common fashion at one time adopted in comedies and by "mashers" of swearing without using profane language.

Date Not quite up to date. Said of books somewhat in arrears of the most recent information.

Daughter Greek, thugater, contracted into thugter; Dutch, dogter; German, tochter; Persian, dochtar; Sanskrit, duhiter; Saxon, dohter; etc.