Divide (?), 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.
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Divide the living child in two. 1 Kings iii. 25.
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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.
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Let it divide the waters from the waters. Gen. i. 6.
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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.
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True justice unto people to divide. Spenser.
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Ye shall divide the land by lot. Num. xxxiii. 54.
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4. To disunite in opinion or interest; to make discordant or hostile; to set at variance.
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If a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom can not stand. Mark iii. 24.
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Every family became now divided within itself. Prescott.
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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.
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6. (Math.) To subject to arithmetical division.
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7. (Logic) To separate into species; -- said of a genus or generic term.
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8. (Mech.) To mark divisions on; to graduate; as, to divide a sextant.
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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.
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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.
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