Dis*till" (?), v. i. [imp. & p.
p. Distilled (?); p. pr. & vb. n.
Distilling.] [F. distiller, from L. destillare,
destillatum; de + stillare to drop,
stilla a drop, prob. fr. stiria frozen drop, icicle;
prob. akin to stare, E. stand. Cf. Still,
n. & v., Instill.] [Written also
distil.] 1. To drop; to fall in drops; to
trickle.
Soft showers distilled, and suns grew warm in
vain.
Pope.
2. To flow gently, or in a small
stream.
The Euphrates distilleth out of the mountains
of Armenia.
Sir W. Raleigh.
3. To practice the art of distillation.
Shak.
Dis*till", v. t. 1.
To let fall or send down in drops.
Or o'er the glebe distill the kindly
rain.
Pope.
The dew which on the tender grass
The evening had distilled.
Drayton.
2. To obtain by distillation; to extract by
distillation, as spirits, essential oil, etc.; to rectify; as, to
distill brandy from wine; to distill alcoholic spirits
from grain; to distill essential oils from flowers, etc.; to
distill fresh water from sea water. "Distilling
odors on me." Tennyson.
3. To subject to distillation; as, to
distill molasses in making rum; to distill barley, rye,
corn, etc.
4. To dissolve or melt. [R.]
Swords by the lightning's subtle force
distilled.
Addison.
