in *Geometry*, a division of a circle, being a three hundred and sixtieth part of its circumference.

**Degree of Latitude.** See **Latitude**.

**Degree of Longitude.** See **Longitude**.

A degree of the meridian on the surface of the globe has been variously determined by different observers. M. Picart measured a degree in the latitude of 49° 21', and found it equal to 57,060 French toises. But the French mathematicians who examined Picart's operations found, that the degree in that latitude is 57,183 toises. Mr Norwood measured the distance between London and York, and found it 905,751 English feet; and finding the difference of latitudes 2° 28', determined the quantity of one degree to be 367,196 English feet, or 69 English miles and 288 yards. Maupertuis measured a degree in Lapland, in the latitude of 66° 20', and found it 57,438 toises. A degree was measured at the equator by other French mathematicians, and found to contain 56,767-8 toises. From these measurements it appears that the earth is not a sphere, but an oblate spheroid.

**Degree**, in the civil and canon law, denotes an interval in kinship, by which proximity and remoteness of blood are computed.

**Degree**, in *Music*, the difference of position or of elevation found between two notes placed on one and the same part, for a voice or an instrument. See **Music**.

**Degrees, Academical.** See **Universities**.

**Dehiscent** (Lat. *dehisco*, to gape), in Botany, opening as the capsule of a plant.

**Deification.** See **Apophthegm**.

**Deinocrates**, or, as his name is sometimes written, *Dinocharis* or *Tymochares*, a celebrated Macedonian architect, who flourished in the time of Alexander the Great. He furnished the designs for the second temple of Diana at Ephesus; drew plans, which he submitted to Alexander, for cutting Mount Athos into a statue of that hero; and, at the command of Ptolemy Philadelphus, prepared to build a temple at Alexandria in honour of that monarch's deceased wife Arsinoë, the roof of which was intended to be arched with load-stones, so that the iron statue of the late queen might seem to float in mid-air. The exact dates of Deinocrates's birth and death are unknown.

**Deioces**, the founder of the Median empire, flourished towards the close of the eighth century B.C. On the destruction of Sennacherib and his army under the walls of Jerusalem, the nations which till that time had owned allegiance to the Assyrians revolted, and among them the Medes. Deioces, whose love of justice had already made him distinguished in his own village, was appointed ruler of the new kingdom, and founded the Median dynasty, which lasted for 150 years. Deioces died after a peaceful reign of 35 years.

**Deiotarus**, a prince of Gallo-Gracia, or Galatia, who joined the Romans against Mithridates, and received as his reward portions of Armenia and Pontus, with the title of king. In the civil wars he took the side of Pompey and of his patrons, the senate, against Caesar. His own grandson, Castor, accused him of an intended assassination of Caesar, which produced the fine oration of Cicero "pro Rege Deiotaro," in which the orator defended successfully his former friend. On the death of Caesar, Deiotarus sided with Brutus; but afterwards made his peace with Octavius Caesar, and joined him in the war against Antony, by which policy he retained possession of his territories. After this period history is silent about Deiotarus.

**Deipnosophists** (*δεῖπνον*, a feast, *σοφιστής*, a sophist), an ancient sect of philosophers, famous for their learned conversation at meals. Athenæus has left a collection of *Ana*, which bears the title of *Deipnosophista*. See **Athenæus**.

**Deiscal**, the name of a ceremony originally used in the druidical worship of Britain, and retained in many places down to a very late period, as a civil ceremony towards persons of distinction. The Druids, in performing the public offices of their religion, invariably made three turns round the altar, accompanied by all the worshippers. The memory of this practice was preserved in some places for many ages after the Druids and their religion had disappeared; as in the custom in the Scottish isles of walking three times round the ancient cairns, from east to west, according to the course of the sun. This custom was called *deiscal*, from *deas* or *dess*, the right hand, and *soil* or *sul*, the sun; the right hand being ever next the heap or cairn. In the same isles it was customary for the people to testify their respect for their chieftains by performing the deiscal around their persons in the same manner. The ceremony is described by a proprietor who experienced this mark of respect as follows:—"One of the natives would needs express his high esteem for my person, by making a turn round about me, sun-ways, and at the same time blessing me, and wishing me all happiness. But I bid him let alone that piece of homage, telling him I was sensible of his good meaning towards me. But this poor man was very much disappointed, as were also his neighbours; for they doubted not but this ancient ceremony would have been very acceptable to me; and one of them told me that this was a thing due to my character from them as to their chief and..." patron, and that they could not, and would not, fail to perform it."