Blacks Law Dict. 1st ed

369

DINARCHY

DIRECT EXAMINATION

DIPSOMANIA. In medical jurispru dence. An irresistible impulse to indulge in intoxication, either by the use of alcohol or of drugs such as opium. This mania or disease is classed as one of the minor forms of in sanity. 19 Neb. 614, 28 N. W. Rep. 273; 1 Bish. Crim. Law, § 304. DIPSOMANIAC. A person subject to dipsomania. One who has an irresistible de sire for alcoholic liquors. DIPTYCHA. Diptychs; tablets of wood, metal, or other substance, used among the Romans for the purpose of writing, and folded like a book of two leaves. The dip tychs of antiquity were especially employed for public registers. They were used in the Greek, and afterwards in the Roman, church, as registers of the names of those for whom supplication was to be made, and are ranked among the earliest monastic records. Burnll. DIRECT. Immediate; by the shortest course; without circuity; operating by an immediate connection or relation, instead of opeiating through a medium; the opposite of indirect. In the usual or natural course or line; im mediately upwards or downwards; as dis tinguished from that which is out of the line, or on the side of it; the opposite of collateral. In the usual or regular courso or order, as distinguished from that which diverts, inter rupts, or opposes; the opposite of cross or contrary. DIRECT EVIDENCE. Evidence di rectly proving any matter, as opposed to cir cumstantial evidence, which is often called "indirect." It is usually conclusive, but, like other evidence, it is fallible, and that on various accounts. It is not to be confounded with primary evidence, as opposed to sec ondary, although in point of fact it usually is primary. Brown. DIRECT EXAMINATION. In prac tice. The first interrogation or examination of a witness, on the merits, by the party on whose behalf he is called. This is to be dis tinguished from an examination in pais, or on the voir dire, which is merely preliminary, and is had when the competency of the wit ness is challenged; from the cross-examina tion, which is conducted by the adverse party; and from the redirect examination, which follows the cross examination, and is had by the party who first examined the witness.

DINARCHY. A government of two persons. DINEBO. In Spanish law. Money. Dinero contado, money counted. White, New Recop. b. 2, tit. 13, c. 1, § 1. In Roman law. A civil division of the Roman empire, embracing several provinces. Calvin. DIOCESAN. Belonging to a diocese; a bishop, as he stands i elated to his own clergy or flock. DIOCESAN COURTS. In English law. The consistorial courts of each diocese, exer cising general jurisdiction of all matters aris ing locally within their respective limits, with the exception of places subject to peculiar jurisdiction; deciding all matters of sphitual discipline,—suspending or depriving clergy men,—and administering the other branches of the ecclesiastical law. 2 Steph. Comm. 672. DIOCESE. The territorial extent of a bishop's jurisdiction. The circuit of every bishop's jurisdiction. Co. Litt. 94; 1 Bl. Coium. 111. DIOICHIA. The district over which a bishop exercised his spiritual functions. DIPLOMA. In the civil law. A royal charter; letters patent granted by a prince or sovereign. Calvin. An instrument given by colleges and soci eties on the conferring of any degrees. A license granted to a physician, etc., to practice his art or profession. See 25 Wend. 469. DIPL OMACY. The science which treats of the relations and interests of nations with nations. Negotiation or intercourse between nations through their representatives. The rules, customs, and privileges of representatives at foreign courts. DIPLOMATIC AGENT. In Interna tional law. A general name for all classes of persons charged with the negotiation, transaction, or superintendence of the diplo matic business of one nation at the court of another. See Rev. St. U. S. § 1674. DIPLOMATICS. The science of di plomas, or of ancient writings and docu ments: the art of judging of ancient char ters, public documents, diplomas, etc., and discriminating the true from the false. Webster. AM.DIOT.LAW—24

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