divide

n. A dividing ridge of land between the tributaries of two streams; also called watershed and water parting. A divide on either side of which the waters drain into two different oceans is called a continental divide. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Divided; p. pr. & vb. n. Dividing. ] [ L. dividere, divisum; di- = dis- + root signifying to part; cf. Skr. vyadh to pierce; perh. akin to L. vidua widow, and E. widow. Cf. Device, Devise. ] 1. To part asunder (a whole); to sever into two or more parts or pieces; to sunder; to separate into parts. [ 1913 Webster ]

Divide the living child in two. 1 Kings iii. 25. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause to be separate; to keep apart by a partition, or by an imaginary line or limit; as, a wall divides two houses; a stream divides the towns. [ 1913 Webster ]

Let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen. i. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To make partition of among a number; to apportion, as profits of stock among proprietors; to give in shares; to distribute; to mete out; to share. [ 1913 Webster ]

True justice unto people to divide. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

Ye shall divide the land by lot. Num. xxxiii. 54. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance. [ 1913 Webster ]

If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand. Mark iii. 24. [ 1913 Webster ]

Every family became now divided within itself. Prescott. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To separate into two parts, in order to ascertain the votes for and against a measure; as, to divide a legislative house upon a question. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Math.) To subject to arithmetical division. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. (Logic) To separate into species; -- said of a genus or generic term. [ 1913 Webster ]

8. (Mech.) To mark divisions on; to graduate; as, to divide a sextant. [ 1913 Webster ]

9. (Music) To play or sing in a florid style, or with variations. [ Obs. ] Spenser.

Syn. -- To sever; dissever; sunder; cleave; disjoin; disunite; detach; disconnect; part; distribute; share. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To be separated; to part; to open; to go asunder. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

The Indo-Germanic family divides into three groups. J. Peile. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To cause separation; to disunite. [ 1913 Webster ]

A gulf, a strait, the sea intervening between islands, divide less than the matted forest. Bancroft. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To break friendship; to fall out. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To have a share; to partake. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. To vote, as in the British Parliament, by the members separating themselves into two parties (as on opposite sides of the hall or in opposite lobbies), that is, the ayes dividing from the noes. [ 1913 Webster ]

The emperors sat, voted, and divided with their equals. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. 1. Parted; disunited; distributed. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Cut into distinct parts, by incisions which reach the midrib; -- said of a leaf. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. Separately; in a divided manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. dividendum thing to be divided, neut. of the gerundive of dividere: cf. F. dividende. ] 1. A sum of money to be divided and distributed; the share of a sum divided that falls to each individual; a distribute sum, share, or percentage; -- applied to the profits as appropriated among shareholders, and to assets as apportioned among creditors; as, the dividend of a bank, a railway corporation, or a bankrupt estate. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) A number or quantity which is to be divided. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Dividend; share. [ Obs. ] Foxe. [ 1913 Webster ]