Chapter Demodocos to Derwentwater of D by Brewer's Phrase & Fable

Denouement (3 syl.). The untying of a plot; the winding-up of a novel or play. (French dénouer, to untie.)

Denys (St.), according to tradition, carried his head, after martyrdom, for six miles, and then deliberately laid it down on the spot where stands the present cathedral bearing his name. This absurd tale took its rise from an ancient painting, in which the artist, to represent the martyrdom of the bishop, drew a headless body; but, in order that the trunk might be recognised, placed the head in front, between the martyr's hands.
   Sir Denys Brand, in Crabbe's Borough, is a country magnate who apes humility. He rides on a sorry brown pony "not worth £5," but mounts his lackey on a racehorse, "twice victor for a plate." Sir Denys Brand is the type of a character by no means uncommon.

Deo Gratias (Latin). Thanks to God.

Deo Juvante (Latin). With God's help.

Deo, non Fortuna (Latin). From God, not from mere luck; [I attribute it] to God and not to blind chance.

Deo Volente contracted into D. V. (Latin). God being willing; by God's will.

Deodand means something "given to God" (deo-dandum). This was the case when a man met with his death through injuries inflicted by some chattel, as by the fall of a ladder, the toss of a bull, or the kick of a horse. In such cases the cause of death was sold, and the proceeds given to the Church. The custom was based on the doctrine of purgatory. As the person was sent to his account without the sacrament of extreme unction, the money thus raised served to pay for masses for his repose. Deodands were abolished September 1st, 1846.

Depart To part thoroughly; to separate effectually. The marriage service in the ancient prayer-books had "till death us depart," or "till alimony or death us departs," a sentence which has been corrupted into "till death us do part."

"Before they settle hands and hearts,
Till alimony or death departs."
Butler: Hudibras, iii. 3.

Department France is divided into departments, as Great Britain and Ireland are divided into counties or shires. From 1768 it was divided into governments, of which thirty-two were grand and eight petit. In 1790, by a decree of the Constituent Assembly, it was mapped out de novo into eighty-three departments. In 1804 the number of departments was increased to 107, and in 1812 to 130. In 1815 the territory was reduced to eighty-six departments, and continued so till 1860, when Savoy and Nice were added. The present number is eighty-seven.

Dependence An existing quarrel. (A term used among swordsmen.)

"Let us pause ... until I give you my opinion on this dependence ... for if we coolly examine the state of our dependence, we may the better apprehend whether the sisters three have doomed one of us to expiate the same with our blood." - Sir W. Scott: The Monastery, chap. xxi.

Depinges (2 syl.) or Deepings. A breadth of netting to be sewed on a hoddy (net) to make it sufficiently large. Sometimes the breadth is called a depth, and the act of sewing one depth on another is called deepening the net. In 1574 the Dutch settlers at Yarmouth were required "to provide themselves with twine and depinges in foreign places."

Deputations The year of deputations. The eighth of the Hedjrah, after Mahomet's victory over the Arabs near Taïf, when deputations from all parts flocked to do him homage.

Depute (2 syl.). To depute means to prune or cut off a part; deputation is the part cut off. A deputation is a slip cut off to represent the whole. (Latin, deputo.)