Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • abbreviation deuteron
  • abbreviation diameter
  • abbreviation differential
  • abbreviation down quark
  • noun The fourth letter of the modern English alphabet.
  • noun Any of the speech sounds represented by the letter d.
  • noun The fourth in a series.
  • noun Something shaped like the letter D.
  • noun The lowest passing grade given to a student in a school or college.
  • noun The second tone in the scale of C major or the fourth tone in the relative minor scale.
  • noun A key or scale in which D is the tonic.
  • noun A written or printed note representing this tone.
  • noun A string, key, or pipe tuned to the pitch of this tone.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • In electricity, an abbreviation for double pole.
  • noun An abbreviation of delirium tremens.
  • noun In electricity, of double-throw: as, a d. t. switch.
  • An abbreviation of the Latin Dei gratia, by the grace of God.
  • A form of -ed, -ed, in certain words. See -ed, -ed.
  • noun Abbreviations of Doctor of Music.
  • noun In music, an abbreviation of destra mano (which see).
  • The fourth letter and third consonant in the English alphabet: the corresponding character has the same position and the same value also in the Latin, Greek, and Phenician alphabets, from which it comes to us. (See A.)
  • As a numeral, in the Roman system, D stands for 500; when a dash or stroke is placed over it, as D, it stands for 5,000.
  • As a symbol: In music: The second tone, or re, of the scale of C.
  • A note which represents this tone.
  • The key-note of the key of two sharps .
  • On the keyboard of the organ or pianoforte, the white key or digital included in each group of two black keys.
  • The string in a stringed instrument that is tuned to the tone D, as the third string of the violin, etc. In chem., D is the symbol of didymium.
  • In mathematics, d is the sign of differentiation, ∂ of partial differentiation, δ of variation, D of derivation (commonly in the sense of taking the differential coefficient), ▵ of differencing, and ⾿ of the Hamiltonian operator.
  • In the mnemonic words of logic, the sign of reduction to darii.
  • As an abbreviation: In Eng. reckoning (d. or d.), an abbreviation of denarius, the original name for the English penny: as, £ s. d., pounds, shillings, and pence; 2s. 1d., two shillings and one penny.
  • Before a date (d.), an abbreviation of died.
  • In dental formulas, an abbreviation of deciduous, prefixed without a period to the letters i, c, and m: thus, di., deciduous incisor; dc., deciduous canine; dm., deciduous molar: all being teeth of the milk-dentition of a diphyodont mammal.
  • or, more simply, taking one half of each jaw only, di. , dc. , dm. . In either case the numbers above the line are those of the upper teeth, and those below the line of the under teeth. See dental.
  • In anatomy and ichthyology (d. or D.), an abbreviation of dorsal (vertebra or fin, respectively).
  • In a ship's logbook (d.), an abbreviation of drizzling.
  • An abbreviation of deadhead or deadheaded.
  • An abbreviation of dead-reckoning.
  • noun An abbreviation of Latin (ML.) divinitatis doctor, Doctor of Divinity.
  • An abbreviation of Doctor of Pharmacy.
  • An abbreviation of the Latin defensor fidei, defender of the faith. See defender.
  • noun An abbreviation of dal segno.
  • noun Abbreviations of Doctor of Theology.
  • An abbreviation of Doctor of Oratory
  • of Doctor of Osteopathy.
  • noun In music, an abbreviation of da capo.
  • noun An abbreviation of Deputy Lieutenant;
  • noun of Doctor of Law, a degree equivalent to D. C. L.
  • noun of Doctor of Literature, a degree equivalent to D. Lit.
  • noun An abbreviation of Doomsday Book.

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Modification of capital letter D, from Ancient Greek letter Δ (D, "Delta").

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Lower case form of upper case roman numeral D, a standardization of D or Ð, from tally stick markings resembling a superimposed Ɔ and ⋌, from the practice of encircling each hundredth ⋌ notch.

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Examples

  • Yes, I'll be G-- d d---- d, "and his arms came down slapping against his hips," let him off, with what? why a reprimand at dress parade, that isn't worth a d-- n as a punishment.

    Red-Tape and Pigeon-Hole Generals As Seen From the Ranks During a Campaign in the Army of the Potomac William H. Armstrong

  • "Och, to the d-- l with your manners honey," said he, clapping his two hands on my shoulders and pressing me down into the chair, "stay there since you're in it, and be d---- d to you."

    The Mirror of Taste, and Dramatic Censor, Vol. I, No. 5, May 1810

  • [Not to your distinct knowledge; but in all those who send people to 'the other place' for contempt of their interpretations, there is a lurking wish which is father to the thought; 'you _will_ be d---- d' and 'you _be_ d-- d' are Siamese twins].

    A Budget of Paradoxes, Volume II (of II) Augustus De Morgan 1838

  • I have heard the latter say, "d--- it, Sir, why do you not ride and head the hounds?" and he has frequently observed to me, and other sportsmen, "By G-d, that d---- d Parson stuffs himself so at master's table, that he is got as lazy as a cur."

    Memoirs of Henry Hunt, Esq. — Volume 2 Henry Hunt 1804

  • Promoted to Headline (H3) on 10/11/09: Corporate Coup d 'Etat of the U.S. Economy yahooBuzzArticleHeadline =' Corporate Coup d\ 'Etat of the U.S. Economy'; yahooBuzzArticleSummary = 'Article: The concept of communism is reviled in this country for the simple reason that it is blind to human nature and allows a small group of individuals near-total control while sticking it to everyone else.

    Corporate Coup d' Etat of the U.S. Economy 2009

  • Being a wise guy is one of the many ways in which the opposing side in a disputation is really saying: I know that I can't answer you, but I'm d----d if I'll admit it.

    Clarification 2009

  • GRUBBS: I guess, if I were to seriously think about it, I-- you know, I ` d-- I ` d feel guilty.

    CNN Transcript Dec 17, 2009 2009

  • If I ` d-- if I ` d been caught smoking, of -- he ` d have played U.S.

    CNN Transcript Oct 3, 2008 2008

  • If there are two kinds d and d², for example, neither is partly identical to the other, and every longer duration is the sum of

    Determinates vs. Determinables Sanford, David H. 2006

  • I assumed we ` d-- we ` d hit a train, hit something just because we were still in one piece.

    CNN Transcript Jul 7, 2005 2005

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