DECAYERDe*cay"er, n.
Defn: A causer of decay. [R.]
DECEASE De*cease", n. Etym: [OE. deses, deces, F. décès, fr. L. decessus departure, death, fr. decedere to depart, die; de- + cedere to withdraw. See Cease, Cede.]
Defn: Departure, especially departure from this life; death.His decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke ix. 31.And I, the whilst you mourn for his decease, Will with my mourningplaints your plaint increase. Spenser.
Syn.— Death; departure; dissolution; demise; release. See Death.
DECEASEDe*cease", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deceased; p. pr. & vb. n. Deceasing.]
Defn: To depart from this life; to die; to pass away.She's dead, deceased, she's dead. Shak.When our summers have deceased. Tennyson.Inasmuch as he carries the malignity and the lie with him, he so fardeceases from nature. Emerson.
DECEASEDDe*ceased", a.
Defn: Passed away; dead; gone. The deceased, the dead person.
DECEDEDe*cede", v. i. Etym: [L. decedere. See Decease, n.]
Defn: To withdraw. [Obs.] Fuller.
DECEDENTDe*ce"dent, a. Etym: [L. decedens, p. pr. of decedere.]
Defn: Removing; departing. Ash.
DECEDENTDe*ce"dent, n.
Defn: A deceased person. Bouvier.
DECEIT De*ceit", n. Etym: [OF. deceit, des, decept (cf. deceite, de), fr. L. deceptus deception, fr. decipere. See Deceive.]
1. An attempt or disposition to deceive or lead into error; any declaration, artifice, or practice, which misleads another, or causes him to believe what is false; a contrivance to entrap; deception; a wily device; fraud. Making the ephah small and the shekel great, and falsifying the balances by deceit. Amos viii. 5. Friendly to man, far from deceit or guile. Milton. Yet still we hug the dear deceit. N. Cotton.
2. (Law)
Defn: Any trick, collusion, contrivance, false representation, or underhand practice, used to defraud another. When injury is thereby effected, an action of deceit, as it called, lies for compensation.
Syn. — Deception; fraud; imposition; duplicity; trickery; guile; falsifying; double-dealing; stratagem. See Deception.
DECEITFULDe*ceit"ful, a.
Defn: Full of, or characterized by, deceit; serving to mislead or insnare; trickish; fraudulent; cheating; insincere. Harboring foul deceitful thoughts. Shak.
DECEITFULLYDe*ceit"ful*ly, adv.
Defn: With intent to deceive.
DECEITFULNESSDe*ceit"ful*ness, n.
1. The disposition to deceive; as, a man's deceitfulness may be habitual.
2. The quality of being deceitful; as, the deceitfulness of a man's practices.
3. Tendency to mislead or deceive. "The deceitfulness of riches." Matt. xiii. 22.
DECEITLESSDe*ceit"less, a.
Defn: Free from deceit. Bp. Hall.
DECEIVABLEDe*ceiv"a*ble, a. Etym: [F. décevable.]
1. Fitted to deceive; deceitful. [Obs.] The fraud of deceivable traditions. Milton.
2. Subject to deceit; capable of being misled. Blind, and thereby deceivable. Milton.
DECEIVABLENESSDe*ceiv"a*ble*ness, n.
1. Capability of deceiving. With all deceivableness of unrighteousness. 2 Thess. ii. 10.
2. Liability to be deceived or misled; as, the deceivableness of a child.
DECEIVABLYDe*ceiv"a*bly, adv.
Defn: In a deceivable manner.
DECEIVEDe*ceive", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deceived; p. pr. & vb. n. Deceiving.]Etym: [OE. deceveir, F. décevoir, fr. L. decipere to catch, insnare,deceive; de- + capere to take, catch. See Capable, and cf. Deceit,Deception.]
1. To lead into error; to cause to believe what is false, or disbelieve what is true; to impose upon; to mislead; to cheat; to disappoint; to delude; to insnare. Evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. 2 Tim. iii. 13. Nimble jugglers that deceive the eye. Shak. What can 'scape the eye Of God all-seeing, or deceive his heart Milton.
2. To beguile; to amuse, so as to divert the attention; to while away; to take away as if by deception. These occupations oftentimes deceived The listless hour. Wordsworth.
3. To deprive by fraud or stealth; to defraud. [Obs.] Plant fruit trees in large borders, and set therein fine flowers, but thin and sparingly, lest they deceive the trees. Bacon.
Syn. — Deceive, Delude, Mislead. Deceive is a general word applicable to any kind of misrepresentation affecting faith or life. To delude, primarily, is to make sport of, by deceiving, and is accomplished by playing upon one's imagination or credulity, as by exciting false hopes, causing him to undertake or expect what is impracticable, and making his failure ridiculous. It implies some infirmity of judgment in the victim, and intention to deceive in the deluder. But it is often used reflexively, indicating that a person's own weakness has made him the sport of others or of fortune; as, he deluded himself with a belief that luck would always favor him. To mislead is to lead, guide, or direct in a wrong way, either willfully or ignorantly.
DECEIVERDe*ceiv"er, n.
Defn: One who deceives; one who leads into error; a cheat; animpostor.The deceived and the deceiver are his. Job xii. 16.
Syn. — Deceiver, Impostor. A deceiver operates by stealth and in private upon individuals; an impostor practices his arts on the community at large. The one succeeds by artful falsehoods, the other by bold assumption. The faithless friend and the fickle lover are deceivers; the false prophet and the pretended prince are impostors.
DECEMBER De*cem"ber, n. Etym: [F. décembre, from L. December, fr. decem ten; this being the tenth month among the early Romans, who began the year in March. See Ten.]
1. The twelfth and last month of the year, containing thirty-one days. During this month occurs the winter solstice.
2. Fig.: With reference to the end of the year and to the winter season; as, the December of his life.
DECEMBRISTDe*cem"brist, n. (Russian Hist.)
Defn: One of those who conspired for constitutional government against the Emperor Nicholas on his accession to the throne at the death of Alexander I., in December, 1825; — called also Dekabrist.
He recalls the history of the decembrists . . . that gallant band ofrevolutionists.G. Kennan.
DECEMDENTATEDe`cem*den"tate, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. dentate.]
Defn: Having ten points or teeth.
DECEMFIDDe*cem"fid, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + root of findere to cleave.](Bot.)
Defn: Cleft into ten parts.
DECEMLOCULARDe`cem*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. locular.] (Bot.)
Defn: Having ten cells for seeds.
DECEMPEDALDe*cem"pe*dal, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. pedal.]
1. Ten feet in length.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Having ten feet; decapodal. [R.] Bailey.
DECEMVIR De*cem"vir, n.; pl. E. Decemvirs, L. Decemviri. Etym: [L., fr. decem ten + vir a man.]
1. One of a body of ten magistrates in ancient Rome.
Note: The title of decemvirs was given to various bodies of Roman magistrates. The most celebrated decemvirs framed "the laws of the Twelve Tables," about 450 B. C., and had absolute authority for three years.
2. A member of any body of ten men in authority.
DECEMVIRALDe*cem"vi*ral, a. Etym: [L. decemviralis.]
Defn: Pertaining to the decemvirs in Rome.
DECEMVIRATEDe*cem"vi*rate, n. Etym: [L. decemviratus.]
1. The office or term of office of the decemvirs in Rome.
2. A body of ten men in authority.
DECEMVIRSHIPDe*cem"vir*ship, n.
Defn: The office of a decemvir. Holland.
DECENCEDe"cence, n.
Defn: Decency. [Obs.] Dryden.
DECENCY De"cen*cy, n.; pl. Decencies. Etym: [L. decentia, fr. decens: cf. F. décence. See Decent.]
1. The quality or state of being decent, suitable, or becoming, in words or behavior; propriety of form in social intercourse, in actions, or in discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony; seemliness; hence, freedom from obscenity or indecorum; modesty. Observances of time, place, and of decency in general. Burke. Immodest words admit of no defense, For want of decency is want of sense. Roscommon.
2. That which is proper or becoming. The external decencies of worship. Atterbury. Those thousand decencies, that daily flow From all her words and actions. Milton.
DECENEDe"cene, n. Etym: [L. decem ten.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H20, of the ethylene series.
DECENNARY De*cen"na*ry, n.; pl. Decennaries. Etym: [L. decennium a period of ten years; decem ten + annus a year.]
1. A period of ten years.
2. (O. Eng. Law)
Defn: A tithing consisting of ten neighboring families. Burrill.
DECENNIALDe*cen"ni*al, a. Etym: [See Decennary.]
Defn: Consisting of ten years; happening every ten years; as, a decennial period; decennial games. Hallam.
DECENNIALDe*cen"ni*al, n.
Defn: A tenth year or tenth anniversary.
DECENNIUMDe*cen"ni*um, n.; pl. Decenniums, L. Decennia. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A period of ten years. "The present decennium." Hallam. "The last decennium of Chaucer's life." A. W. Ward.
DECENNOVAL; DECENNOVARYDe*cen"no*val, De*cen"no*va*ry, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + novem nine.]
Defn: Pertaining to the number nineteen; of nineteen years. [R.]Holder.
DECENT De"cent, a. Etym: [L. decens, decentis, p. pr. of decere to be fitting or becoming; akin to decus glory, honor, ornament, Gr. d to grant, to give; and perh. akin to E. attire, tire: cf. F. décent. Cf. Decorate, Decorum, Deig.]
1. Suitable in words, behavior, dress, or ceremony; becoming; fit; decorous; proper; seemly; as, decent conduct; decent language. Shak. Before his decent steps. Milton.
2. Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest.
3. Comely; shapely; well-formed. [Archaic] A sable stole of cyprus lawn Over thy decent shoulders drawn. Milton. By foreign hands thy decent limbs composed. Pope.
4. Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; as, a decent fortune; a decent person. A decent retreat in the mutability of human affairs. Burke. — De"cent*ly, adv. — De"cent*ness, n.
DECENTRALIZATIONDe*cen`tral*i*za"tion, n.
Defn: The action of decentralizing, or the state of being decentralized. "The decentralization of France." J. P. Peters.
DECENTRALIZEDe*cen"tral*ize, v. t.
Defn: To prevent from centralizing; to cause to withdraw from the center or place of concentration; to divide and distribute (what has been united or concentrated); — esp. said of authority, or the administration of public affairs.
DECEPTIBLEDe*cep"ti*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deceived; deceivable. Sir T. Browne.— De*cep`ti*bil"i*ty (, n.
DECEPTION De*cep"tion, n. Etym: [F. déception, L. deceptio, fr. decipere, deceptum. See Deceive.]
1. The act of deceiving or misleading. South.
2. The state of being deceived or misled. There is one thing relating either to the action or enjoyments of man in which he is not liable to deception. South.
3. That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false representation; artifice; cheat; fraud. There was of course room for vast deception. Motley.
Syn. — Deception, Deceit, Fraud, Imposition. Deception usually refers to the act, and deceit to the habit of the mind; hence we speak of a person as skilled in deception and addicted to deceit. The practice of deceit springs altogether from design, and that of the worst kind; but a deception does not always imply aim and intention. It may be undesigned or accidental. An imposition is an act of deception practiced upon some one to his annoyance or injury; a fraud implies the use of stratagem, with a view to some unlawful gain or advantage.
DECEPTIOUSDe*cep"tious, a. Etym: [LL. deceptiosus.]
Defn: Tending deceive; delusive. [R.]As if those organs had deceptious functions. Shak.
DECEPTIVEDe*cep"tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déceptif. See Deceive.]
Defn: Tending to deceive; having power to mislead, or impress with false opinions; as, a deceptive countenance or appearance. Language altogether deceptive, and hiding the deeper reality from our eyes. Trench. Deceptive cadence (Mus.), a cadence on the subdominant, or in some foreign key, postponing the final close.
DECEPTIVELYDe*cep"tive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a manner to deceive.
DECEPTIVENESSDe*cep"tive*ness, n.
Defn: The power or habit of deceiving; tendency or aptness to deceive.
DECEPTIVITYDe`cep*tiv"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deceptiveness; a deception; a sham. [R.] Carlyle.
DECEPTORYDe*cep"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. deceptorius, from decipere.]
Defn: Deceptive. [R.]
DECERNDe*cern", v. t. Etym: [L. decernere. See Decree.]
1. To perceive, discern, or decide. [Obs.] Granmer.
2. (Scots Law)
Defn: To decree; to adjudge.
DECERNITUREDe*cern"i*ture, n. (Scots Law)
Defn: A decree or sentence of a court. Stormonth.
DECERPDe*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. decerpere; de- + carpere to pluck.]
Defn: To pluck off; to crop; to gather. [Obs.]
DECERPTDe*cerpt", a. Etym: [L. decerptus, p. p. of decerpere.]
Defn: Plucked off or away. [Obs.]
DECERPTIBLEDe*cerp"ti*ble, a.
Defn: That may be plucked off, cropped, or torn away. [Obs.] Bailey.
DECERPTIONDe*cerp"tion, n.
1. The act of plucking off; a cropping.
2. That which is plucked off or rent away; a fragment; a piece. Glanvill.
DECERTATION De`cer*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. decertatio, fr. decertare, decertatum; de- + certare to contend.]
Defn: Contest for mastery; contention; strife. [R.] Arnway.
DECESSIONDe*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. decessio, fr. decedere to depart. SeeDecease, n.]
Defn: Departure; decrease; — opposed to accesion. [Obs.] Jer.Taylor.
DECHARMDe*charm", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. décharmer. See Charm.]
Defn: To free from a charm; to disenchant.
DECHRISTIANIZE De*chris"tian*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dechristianized; p. pr. & vb. n. Dechristianizing.]
Defn: To turn from, or divest of, Christianity.
DECIAREDec"i*are`, n. [F. déciare; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + are.See 2d Are.] (Metric System)
Defn: A measure of area, the tenth part of an are; ten square meters.
DECIDABLEDe*cid"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being decided; determinable.
DECIDEDe*cide", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciding.]Etym: [L. decidere; de- + caedere to cut, cut off; prob. akin to E.shed, v.: cf. F. décider. Cf. Decision.]
1. To cut off; to separate. [Obs.] Our seat denies us traffic here; The sea, too near, decides us from the rest. Fuller.
2. To bring to a termination, as a question, controversy, struggle, by giving the victory to one side or party; to render judgment concerning; to determine; to settle. So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it. 1 Kings xx. 40. The quarrel toucheth none but us alone; Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then. Shak.
DECIDEDe*cide", v. i.
Defn: To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to aconclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of thedefendant.Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.
DECIDEDDe*cid"ed, a.
1. Free from ambiguity; unequivocal; unmistakable; unquestionable; clear; evident; as, a decided advantage. "A more decided taste for science." Prescott.
2. Free from doubt or wavering; determined; of fixed purpose; fully settled; positive; resolute; as, a decided opinion or purpose.
Syn. — Decided, Decisive. We call a thing decisive when it has the power or quality of deciding; as, a decisive battle; we speak of it as decided when it is so fully settled as to leave no room for doubt; as, a decided preference, a decided aversion. Hence, a decided victory is one about which there is no question; a decisive victory is one which ends the contest. Decisive is applied only to things; as, a decisive sentence, a decisive decree, a decisive judgment. Decided is applied equally to persons and things. Thus we speak of a man as decided in his whole of conduct; and as having a decided disgust, or a decided reluctance, to certain measures. "A politic caution, a guarded circumspection, were among the ruling principles of our forefathers in their most decided conduct." Burke. "The sentences of superior judges are final, decisive, and irrevocable. Blackstone.
DECIDEDLYDe*cid"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly; thoroughly.
DECIDEMENTDe*cide"ment, n.
Defn: Means of forming a decision. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.
DECIDENCEDec"i*dence, n. Etym: [L. decidens falling off.]
Defn: A falling off. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DECIDERDe*cid"er, n.
Defn: One who decides.
DECIDUADe*cid"u*a, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. deciduus. See Deciduous.] (Anat.)
Defn: The inner layer of the wall of the uterus, which envelops the embryo, forms a part of the placenta, and is discharged with it.
DECIDUATADe*cid`u*a"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A group of Mammalia in which a decidua is thrown off with, or after, the fetus, as in the human species.
DECIDUATEDe*cid"u*ate, a. (Anat.)
Defn: Possessed of, or characterized by, a decidua.
DECIDUITYDec`i*du"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deciduousness. [R.]
DECIDUOUS De*cid"u*ous, a. Etym: [L. deciduus, fr. dec to fall off; de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.] (Biol.)
Defn: Falling off, or subject to fall or be shed, at a certain season, or a certain stage or interval of growth, as leaves (except of evergreens) in autumn, or as parts of animals, such as hair, teeth, antlers, etc.; also, shedding leaves or parts at certain seasons, stages, or intervals; as, deciduous trees; the deciduous membrane.
DECIDUOUSNESSDe*cid"u*ous*ness, n.
Defn: The quality or state of being deciduous.
DECIGRAM; DECIGRAMME Dec"i*gram, Dec"i*gramme, n. Etym: [F. décigramme; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + gramme.]
Defn: A weight in the metric system; one tenth of a gram, equal to 1.5432 grains avoirdupois.
DECIL; DECILEDec"il, Dec"ile, n. Etym: [F. décil, fr. L. decem tendecile.](Astrol.)
Defn: An aspect or position of two planets, when they are distant from each other a tenth part of the zodiac, or 36º.
DECILITER; DECILITREDec"i*li`ter, Dec"i*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. décilitre; pref. déci- tenth(L. decimus) + litre. See Liter.]
Defn: A measure of capacity or volume in the metric system; one tenth of a liter, equal to 6.1022 cubic inches, or 3.38 fluid ounces.
DECILLIONDe*cil"lion, n. Etym: [L. decem ten + the ending of million.]
Defn: According to the English notation, a million involved to the tenth power, or a unit with sixty ciphers annexed; according to the French and American notation, a thousand involved to the eleventh power, or a unit with thirty-three ciphers annexed. [See the Note under Numeration.]
DECILLIONTHDe*cil"lionth, a.
Defn: Pertaining to a decillion, or to the quotient of unity divided by a decillion.
DECILLIONTH De*cil"lionth, n. (a) The quotient of unity divided by a decillion. (b) One of a decillion equal parts.
DECIMAL Dec"i*mal, a. Etym: [F. décimal (cf. LL. decimalis), fr. L. decimus tenth, fr. decem ten. See Ten, and cf. Dime.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to decimals; numbered or proceeding by tens; having a tenfold increase or decrease, each unit being ten times the unit next smaller; as, decimal notation; a decimal coinage. Decimal arithmetic, the common arithmetic, in which numeration proceeds by tens. — Decimal fraction, a fraction in which the denominator is some power of 10, as — Decimal point, a dot or full stop at the left of a decimal fraction. The figures at the left of the point represent units or whole numbers, as 1.05.
DECIMALDec"i*mal, n.
Defn: A number expressed in the scale of tens; specifically, and almost exclusively, used as synonymous with a decimal fraction. Circulating, or Circulatory, decimal, a decimal fraction in which the same figure, or set of figures, is constantly repeated; as, 0.354354354; — called also recurring decimal, repeating decimal, and repetend.
DECIMALISMDec"i*mal*ism, n.
Defn: The system of a decimal currency, decimal weights, measures, etc.
DECIMALIZEDec"i*mal*ize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce to a decimal system; as, to decimalize the currency.— Dec`i*mal*i*za"tion, n.
DECIMALLYDec"i*mal*ly, adv.
Defn: By tens; by means of decimals.
DECIMATEDec"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated; p. pr. & vb. n.Decimating.] Etym: [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (insenses 1 & 2), fr. decimus tenth. See Decimal.]
1. To take the tenth part of; to tithe. Johnson.
2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man of; as, to decimate a regiment as a punishment for mutiny. Macaulay.
3. To destroy a considerable part of; as, to decimate an army in battle; to decimate a people by disease.
DECIMATIONDec`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. decimatio: cf. F. décimation.]
1. A tithing. [Obs.] State Trials (1630).
2. A selection of every tenth person by lot, as for punishment. Shak.
3. The destruction of any large proportion, as of people by pestilence or war. Milman.
DECIMATORDec"i*ma`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. LL. decimator.]
Defn: One who decimates. South.
DECIMEDé`cime", n. Etym: [F.]
Defn: A French coin, the tenth part of a franc, equal to about two cents.
DECIMETER; DECIMETRE Dec"i*me`ter, Dec"i*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. décimètre; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + mètre. See Meter.]
Defn: A measure of length in the metric system; one tenth of a meter, equal to 3.937 inches.
DECIMOSEXTO Dec`i*mo*sex"to, n. Etym: [Prop., in sixteenth; fr. L. decimus tenth + sextus sixth.]
Defn: A book consisting of sheets, each of which is folded into sixteen leaves; hence, indicating, more or less definitely, a size of book; — usually written 16mo or 16º.
DECIMOSEXTODec`i*mo*sex"to, a.
Defn: Having sixteen leaves to a sheet; as, a decimosexto form, book, leaf, size.
DECINEDe"cine (; 104), n. Etym: [From L. decem ten.] (Chem.)
Defn: One of the higher hydrocarbons, C10H15, of the acetylene series; — called also decenylene.
DECIPHERDe*ci"pher, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deciphered; p. pr. & vb. n.Deciphering.] Etym: [Pref. de- + cipher. Formed in imitation of F.déchiffrer. See Cipher.]
1. To translate from secret characters or ciphers into intelligible terms; as, to decipher a letter written in secret characters.
2. To find out, so as to be able to make known the meaning of; to make out or read, as words badly written or partly obliterated; to detect; to reveal; to unfold.
3. To stamp; to detect; to discover. [R.] You are both deciphered, . . . For villains. Shak.
DECIPHERABLEDe*ci"pher*a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being deciphered; as, old writings not decipherable.
DECIPHERERDe*ci"pher*er, n.
Defn: One who deciphers.
DECIPHERESSDe*ci"pher*ess, n.
Defn: A woman who deciphers.
DECIPHERMENTDe*ci"pher*ment, n.
Defn: The act of deciphering.
DECIPIENCYDe*cip"i*en*cy, n. Etym: [L. decipiens, p. pr. of decipere. SeeDeceive.]
Defn: State of being deceived; hallucination. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.
DECIPIUMDe*cip"i*um, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. decipere to deceive.] (Chem.)
Defn: A supposed rare element, said to be associated with cerium, yttrium, etc., in the mineral samarskite, and more recently called samarium. Symbol Dp. See Samarium.
DECISION De*ci"sion, n. Etym: [L. decisio, fr. decidere, decisum: cf. F. décision. See Decide.]
1. Cutting off; division; detachment of a part. [Obs.] Bp. Pearson.
2. The act of deciding; act of settling or terminating, as a controversy, by giving judgment on the matter at issue; determination, as of a question or doubt; settlement; conclusion. The decision of some dispute. Atterbury.
3. An account or report of a conclusion, especially of a legal adjudication or judicial determination of a question or cause; as, a decision of arbitrators; a decision of the Supreme Court.
4. The quality of being decided; prompt and fixed determination; unwavering firmness; as, to manifest great decision.
Syn. — Decision, Determination, Resolution. Each of these words has two meanings, one implying the act of deciding, determining, or resolving; and the other a habit of mind as to doing. It is in the last sense that the words are here compared. Decision is a cutting short. It implies that several courses of action have been presented to the mind, and that the choice is now finally made. It supposes, therefore, a union of promptitude and energy. Determination is the natural consequence of decision. It is the settling of a thing with a fixed purpose to adhere. Resolution is the necessary result in a mind which is characterized by firmness. It is a spirit which scatters (resolves) all doubt, and is ready to face danger or suffering in carrying out one's determinations. Martin Luther was equally distinguished for his prompt decision, his steadfast determination, and his inflexible resolution.
DECISIVEDe*ci*sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décisif. See Decision.]
1. Having the power or quality of deciding a question or controversy; putting an end to contest or controversy; final; conclusive. "A decisive, irrevocable doom." Bates. "Decisive campaign." Macaulay. "Decisive proof." Hallam.
2. Marked by promptness and decision. A noble instance of this attribute of the decisive character. J. Foster.
Syn.— Decided; positive; conclusive. See Decided.— De*ci"sive*ly, adv.— De*ci"sive*ness, n.
DECISORYDe*ci"so*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décisoire. See Decision.]
Defn: Able to decide or determine; having a tendency to decide. [R.]
DECISTERE Dec"i*stere, n. Etym: [F. décistère; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + stère a stere.] (Metric System)
Defn: The tenth part of the stere or cubic meter, equal to 3.531 cubic feet. See Stere.
DECITIZENIZEDe*cit"i*zen*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of the rights of citizenship. [R.]We have no law — as the French have — to decitizenize a citizen.Edw. Bates.
DECIVILIZEDe*civ"i*lize, v. t.
Defn: To reduce from civilization to a savage state. [R.] Blackwood'sMag.
DECK Deck, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decked; p. pr. & vb. n. Decking.] Etym: [D. dekken to cover; akin to E. thatch. See Thatch.]
1. To cover; to overspread. To deck with clouds the uncolored sky. Milton.
2. To dress, as the person; to clothe; especially, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance; to array; to adorn; to embellish. Deck thyself now with majesty and excellency. Job xl. 10. And deck my body in gay ornaments. Shak. The dew with spangles decked the ground. Dryden.
3. To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.
DECKDeck, n. Etym: [D. dek. See Deck, v.]
1. The floorlike covering of the horizontal sections, or compartments, of a ship. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks.
Note: The following are the more common names of the decks of vessels having more than one. Berth deck (Navy), a deck next below the gun deck, where the hammocks of the crew are swung. — Boiler deck (River Steamers), the deck on which the boilers are placed. — Flush deck, any continuous, unbroken deck from stem to stern. — Gun deck (Navy), a deck below the spar deck, on which the ship's guns are carried. If there are two gun decks, the upper one is called the main deck, the lower, the lower gun deck; if there are three, one is called the middle gun deck. — Half-deck, that portion of the deck next below the spar deck which is between the mainmast and the cabin. — Hurricane deck (River Steamers, etc.), the upper deck, usually a light deck, erected above the frame of the hull. — Orlop deck, the deck or part of a deck where the cables are stowed, usually below the water line. — Poop deck, the deck forming the roof of a poop or poop cabin, built on the upper deck and extending from the mizzenmast aft. — Quarter-deck, the part of the upper deck abaft the mainmast, including the poop deck when there is one. — Spar deck. (a) Same as the upper deck. (b) Sometimes a light deck fitted over the upper deck. — Upper deck, the highest deck of the hull, extending from stem to stern.
2. (arch.)
Defn: The upper part or top of a mansard roof or curb roof when made nearly flat.
3. (Railroad)
Defn: The roof of a passenger car.
4. A pack or set of playing cards. The king was slyly fingered from the deck. Shak.
5. A heap or store. [Obs.] Who . . . hath such trinkets Ready in the deck. Massinger. Between decks. See under Between. — Deck bridge (Railroad Engineering), a bridge which carries the track upon the upper chords; — distinguished from a through bridge, which carries the track upon the lower chords, between the girders. — Deck curb (Arch.), a curb supporting a deck in roof construction. — Deck floor (Arch.), a floor which serves also as a roof, as of a belfry or balcony. — Deck hand, a sailor hired to help on the vessel's deck, but not expected to go aloft. — Deck molding (Arch.), the molded finish of the edge of a deck, making the junction with the lower slope of the roof. — Deck roof (Arch.), a nearly flat roof which is not surmounted by parapet walls. — Deck transom (Shipbuilding), the transom into which the deck is framed. — To clear the decks (Naut.), to remove every unnecessary incumbrance in preparation for battle; to prepare for action. — To sweep the deck (Card Playing), to clear off all the stakes on the table by winning them.
DECKELDeck"el, n. (Paper Making)
Defn: Same as Deckle.
DECKERDeck"er, n.
1. One who, or that which, decks or adorns; a coverer; as, a table decker.
2. A vessel which has a deck or decks; — used esp. in composition; as, a single-decker; a three-decker.
DECKLEDec"kle, n. Etym: [Cf. G. deckel cover, lid.] (Paper Making)
Defn: A separate thin wooden frame used to form the border of a hand mold, or a curb of India rubber or other material which rests on, and forms the edge of, the mold in a paper machine and determines the width of the paper. [Spelt also deckel, and deckle.]
DECKLE EDGEDec"kle edge`.
Defn: The rough, untrimmed edge of paper left by the deckle; also, a rough edge in imitation of this.
DECKLE-EDGEDDec"kle-edged`, a.
Defn: Having a deckle edge; as, deckle-edged paper; a deckle-edged book.
DECLAIMDe*claim", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declaimed; p. pr. & vb. n.Declaiming.] Etym: [L. declamare; de- + clamare to cry out: cf. F.déclamer. See Claim.]
1. To speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech or oration; to harangue; specifically, to recite a speech, poem, etc., in public as a rhetorical exercise; to practice public speaking; as, the students declaim twice a week.
2. To speak for rhetorical display; to speak pompously, noisily, or theatrically; to make an empty speech; to rehearse trite arguments in debate; to rant. Grenville seized the opportunity to declaim on the repeal of the stamp act. Bancroft.
DECLAIMDe*claim", v. t.
1. To utter in public; to deliver in a rhetorical or set manner.
2. To defend by declamation; to advocate loudly. [Obs.] "Declaims his cause." South.
DECLAIMANTDe*claim"ant, n.
Defn: A declaimer. [R.]
DECLAIMERDe*claim"er, n.
Defn: One who declaims; an haranguer.
DECLAMATION Dec`la*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. declamatio, from declamare: cf. F. déclamation. See Declaim.]
1. The act or art of declaiming; rhetorical delivery; haranguing; loud speaking in public; especially, the public recitation of speeches as an exercise in schools and colleges; as, the practice declamation by students. The public listened with little emotion, but with much civility, to five acts of monotonous declamation. Macaulay.
2. A set or harangue; declamatory discourse.
3. Pretentious rhetorical display, with more sound than sense; as, mere declamation.
DECLAMATORDec"la*ma`tor, n. Etym: [L.]
Defn: A declaimer. [R.] Sir T. Elyot.
DECLAMATORYDe*clam"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. declamatorius: cf. F. déclamatoire.]
1. Pertaining to declamation; treated in the manner of a rhetorician; as, a declamatory theme.
2. Characterized by rhetorical display; pretentiously rhetorical; without solid sense or argument; bombastic; noisy; as, a declamatory way or style.
DECLARABLEDe*clar"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being declared. Sir T. Browne.
DECLARANTDe*clar"ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déclarant, p. pr. of déclarer.] (Law)
Defn: One who declares. Abbott.
DECLARATION Dec`la*ra"tion, n. Etym: [F. déclaration, fr. L. declaratio, fr. declarare. See Declare.]
1. The act of declaring, or publicly announcing; explicit asserting; undisguised token of a ground or side taken on any subject; proclamation; exposition; as, the declaration of an opinion; a declaration of war, etc.
2. That which is declared or proclaimed; announcement; distinct statement; formal expression; avowal. Declarations of mercy and love . . . in the Gospel. Tillotson.
3. The document or instrument containing such statement or proclamation; as, the Declaration of Independence (now preserved in Washington). In 1776 the Americans laid before Europe that noble Declaration, which ought to be hung up in the nursery of every king, and blazoned on the porch of every royal palace. Buckle.
4. (Law)
Defn: That part of the process in which the plaintiff sets forth in order and at large his cause of complaint; the narration of the plaintiff's case containing the count, or counts. See Count, n., 3. Declaration of Independence. (Amer. Hist.) See under Independence. — Declaration of rights. (Eng. Hist) See Bill of rights, under Bill. — Declaration of trust (Law), a paper subscribed by a grantee of property, acknowledging that he holds it in trust for the purposes and upon the terms set forth. Abbott.
DECLARATIVE De*clar"a*tive, a. Etym: [L. declarativus, fr. declarare: cf. F. déclaratif.]
Defn: Making declaration, proclamation, or publication; explanatory; assertive; declaratory. "Declarative laws." Baker. The "vox populi," so declarative on the same side. Swift.
DECLARATIVELYDe*clar"a*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: By distinct assertion; not impliedly; in the form of adeclaration.The priest shall expiate it, that is, declaratively. Bates.
DECLARATORDec"la*ra`tor, n. Etym: [L., an announcer.] (Scots Law)
Defn: A form of action by which some right or interest is sought to be judicially declared.
DECLARATORILYDe*clar"a*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a declaratory manner.
DECLARATORYDe*clar"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déclaratoire.]
Defn: Making declaration, explanation, or exhibition; making clear or manifest; affirmative; expressive; as, a clause declaratory of the will of the legislature. Declaratory act (Law), an act or statute which sets forth more clearly, and declares what is, the existing law.
DECLAREDe*clare", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declared; p. pr. & vb. n. Declaring.]Etym: [F. déclarer, from L. declarare; de + clarare to make clear,clarus, clear, bright. See Clear.]
1. To make clear; to free from obscurity. [Obs.] "To declare this a little." Boyle.
2. To make known by language; to communicate or manifest explicitly and plainly in any way; to exhibit; to publish; to proclaim; to announce. This day I have begot whom I declare My only Son. Milton. The heavens declare the glory of God. Ps. xix. 1.
3. To make declaration of; to assert; to affirm; to set forth; to avow; as, he declares the story to be false. I the Lord . . . declare things that are right. Isa. xlv. 19.
4. (Com.)
Defn: To make full statement of, as goods, etc., for the purpose of paying taxes, duties, etc. To declare off, to recede from an agreement, undertaking, contract, etc.; to renounce. — To declare one's self, to avow one's opinion; to show openly what one thinks, or which side he espouses.
DECLAREDe*clare", v. i.
1. To make a declaration, or an open and explicit avowal; to proclaim one's self; — often with for or against; as, victory declares against the allies. Like fawning courtiers, for success they wait, And then come smiling, and declare for fate. Dryden.
2. (Law)
Defn: To state the plaintiff's cause of action at law in a legal form; as, the plaintiff declares in trespass.
DECLAREDLYDe*clar"ed*ly, adv.
Defn: Avowedly; explicitly.
DECLAREDNESSDe*clar"ed*ness, n.
Defn: The state of being declared.
DECLAREMENTDe*clare"ment, n.
Defn: Declaration. [Obs.]
DECLARERDe*clar"er, n.
Defn: One who makes known or proclaims; that which exhibits. Udall.
DECLASSDe*class", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Declassed; p. pr. & vb. n.Declassing.] [Cf. F. déclasser.]
Defn: To remove from a class; to separate or degrade from one's class. North Am. Rev.
DECLENSIONDe*clen"sion, n. Etym: [Apparently corrupted fr. F. déclinaison, fr.L. declinatio, fr. declinare. See Decline, and cf. Declination.]
1. The act or the state of declining; declination; descent; slope. The declension of the land from that place to the sea. T. Burnet.
2. A falling off towards a worse state; a downward tendency; deterioration; decay; as, the declension of virtue, of science, of a state, etc. Seduced the pitch and height of all his thoughts To base declension. Shak.
3. Act of courteously refusing; act of declining; a declinature; refusal; as, the declension of a nomination.
4. (Gram.) (a) Inflection of nouns, adjectives, etc., according to the grammatical cases. (b) The form of the inflection of a word declined by cases; as, the first or the second declension of nouns, adjectives, etc. (c) Rehearsing a word as declined.
Note: The nominative was held to be the primary and original form, and was likened to a perpendicular line; the variations, or oblique cases, were regarded as fallings (hence called casus, cases, or fallings) from the nominative or perpendicular; and an enumerating of the various forms, being a sort of progressive descent from the noun's upright form, was called a declension. Harris. Declension of the needle, declination of the needle.
DECLENSIONALDe*clen"sion*al, a.
Defn: Belonging to declension.Declensional and syntactical forms. M. Arnold.
DECLINABLEDe*clin"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. déclinable. See Decline.]
Defn: Capable of being declined; admitting of declension or inflection; as, declinable parts of speech.
DECLINALDe*clin"al, a.
Defn: Declining; sloping.
DECLINATEDec"li*nate, a. Etym: [L. declinatus, p. p. of declinare. SeeDecline.]
Defn: Bent downward or aside; (Bot.) bending downward in a curve; declined.
DECLINATION Dec`li*na"tion, n. Etym: [L. declinatio a bending aside, an avoiding: cf. F. déclination a decadence. See Declension.]
1. The act or state of bending downward; inclination; as, declination of the head.
2. The act or state of falling off or declining from excellence or perfection; deterioration; decay; decline. "The declination of monarchy." Bacon. Summer . . . is not looked on as a time Of declination or decay. Waller.
3. The act of deviating or turning aside; oblique motion; obliquity;withdrawal.The declination of atoms in their descent. Bentley.Every declination and violation of the rules. South.
4. The act or state of declining or refusing; withdrawal; refusal; averseness. The queen's declination from marriage. Stow.
5. (Astron.)
Defn: The angular distance of any object from the celestial equator, either northward or southward.
6. (Dialing)
Defn: The arc of the horizon, contained between the vertical plane and the prime vertical circle, if reckoned from the east or west, or between the meridian and the plane, reckoned from the north or south.
7. (Gram.)
Defn: The act of inflecting a word; declension. See Decline, v. t., 4. Angle of declination, the angle made by a descending line, or plane, with a horizontal plane. — Circle of declination, a circle parallel to the celestial equator. — Declination compass (Physics), a compass arranged for finding the declination of the magnetic needle. — Declination of the compass or needle, the horizontal angle which the magnetic needle makes with the true north-and-south line.
DECLINATORDec"li*na`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. déclinateur. See Decline.]
1. An instrument for taking the declination or angle which a plane makes with the horizontal plane.
2. A dissentient. [R.] Bp. Hacket.
DECLINATORYDe*clin"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [LL. declinatorius, fr. L. declinare: cf.F. déclinatoire.]
Defn: Containing or involving a declination or refusal, as of submission to a charge or sentence. Blackstone. Declinatory plea (O. Eng. Law), the plea of sanctuary or of benefit of clergy, before trial or conviction; — now abolished.
DECLINATUREDe*clin"a*ture, n.
Defn: The act of declining or refusing; as, the declinature of an office.
DECLINE De*cline", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Declined; p. pr. & vb. n. Declining.] Etym: [OE. declinen to bend down, lower, sink, decline (a noun), F. décliner to decline, refuse, fr. L. declinare to turn aside, inflect (a part of speech), avoid; de- + clinare to incline; akin to E. lean. See Lean, v. i.]
1. To bend, or lean downward; to take a downward direction; to bend over or hang down, as from weakness, weariness, despondency, etc.; to condescend. "With declining head." Shak. He . . . would decline even to the lowest of his family. Lady Hutchinson. Disdaining to decline, Slowly he falls, amidst triumphant cries. Byron. The ground at length became broken and declined rapidly. Sir W. Scott.
2. To tend or draw towards a close, decay, or extinction; to tend to a less perfect state; to become diminished or impaired; to fail; to sink; to diminish; to lessen; as, the day declines; virtue declines; religion declines; business declines. That empire must decline Whose chief support and sinews are of coin. Waller. And presume to know . . . Who thrives, and who declines. Shak.
3. To turn or bend aside; to deviate; to stray; to withdraw; as, a line that declines from straightness; conduct that declines from sound morals. Yet do I not decline from thy testimonies. Ps. cxix. 157.
4. To turn away; to shun; to refuse; — the opposite of accept or consent; as, he declined, upon principle.
DECLINEDe*cline", v. t.
1. To bend downward; to bring down; to depress; to cause to bend, or fall. In melancholy deep, with head declined. Thomson. And now fair Phoebus gan decline in haste His weary wagon to the western vale. Spenser.
2. To cause to decrease or diminish. [Obs.] "You have declined his means." Beau. & Fl. He knoweth his error, but will not seek to decline it. Burton.
3. To put or turn aside; to turn off or away from; to refuse to undertake or comply with; reject; to shun; to avoid; as, to decline an offer; to decline a contest; he declined any participation with them. Could I Decline this dreadful hour Massinger.
4. (Gram.)
Defn: To inflect, or rehearse in order the changes of grammatical form of; as, to decline a noun or an adjective.
Note: Now restricted to such words as have case inflections; but formerly it was applied both to declension and conjugation. After the first declining of a noun and a verb. Ascham.
5. To run through from first to last; to repeat like a schoolboy declining a noun. [R.] Shak.
DECLINEDe*cline", n. Etym: [F. déclin. See Decline, v. i.]
1. A falling off; a tendency to a worse state; diminution or decay; deterioration; also, the period when a thing is tending toward extinction or a less perfect state; as, the decline of life; the decline of strength; the decline of virtue and religion. Their fathers lived in the decline of literature. Swift.
2. (Med.)
Defn: That period of a disorder or paroxysm when the symptoms begin to abate in violence; as, the decline of a fever.
3. A gradual sinking and wasting away of the physical faculties; any wasting disease, esp. pulmonary consumption; as, to die of a decline. Dunglison.
Syn. — Decline, Decay, Consumption. Decline marks the first stage in a downward progress; decay indicates the second stage, and denotes a tendency to ultimate destruction; consumption marks a steady decay from an internal exhaustion of strength. The health may experience a decline from various causes at any period of life; it is naturally subject to decay with the advance of old age; consumption may take place at almost any period of life, from disease which wears out the constitution. In popular language decline is often used as synonymous with consumption. By a gradual decline, states and communities lose their strength and vigor; by progressive decay, they are stripped of their honor, stability, and greatness; by a consumption of their resources and vital energy, they are led rapidly on to a completion of their existence.
DECLINEDDe*clined", a.
Defn: Declinate.
DECLINERDe*clin"er, n.
Defn: He who declines or rejects.A studious decliner of honors. Evelyn.
DECLINOMETERDec`li*nom"e*ter, n. Etym: [Decline + -meter.] (Physics)
Defn: An instrument for measuring the declination of the magnetic needle.
DECLINOUSDe*clin"ous, a.
Defn: Declinate.
DECLIVITOUS; DECLIVOUSDe*cliv"i*tous, De*cli"vous, a.
Defn: Descending gradually; moderately steep; sloping; downhill.
DECLIVITY De*cliv"i*ty, n.; pl. Declivities. Etym: [L. declivitas, fr. declivis sloping, downhill; de + clivus a slope, a hill; akin to clinare to incline: cf. F. déclivité. See Decline.]
1. Deviation from a horizontal line; gradual descent of surface; inclination downward; slope; — opposed to acclivity, or ascent; the same slope, considered as descending, being a declivity, which, considered as ascending, is an acclivity.
2. A descending surface; a sloping place. Commodious declivities and channels for the passage of the waters. Derham.
DECOCTDe*coct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decocted; p. pr. & vb. n. Decocting.]Etym: [L. decoctus, p. p. of decoquere to boil down; de- + coquere tocook, boil. See Cook to decoct.]
1. To prepare by boiling; to digest in hot or boiling water; to extract the strength or flavor of by boiling; to make an infusion of.
2. To prepare by the heat of the stomach for assimilation; to digest; to concoct.
3. To warm, strengthen, or invigorate, as if by boiling. [R.] "Decoct their cold blood." Shak.
DECOCTIBLEDe*coct"i*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being boiled or digested.
DECOCTIONDe*coc"tion, n. Etym: [F. décoction, L. decoctio.]
1. The act or process of boiling anything in a watery fluid to extract its virtues. In decoction . . . it either purgeth at the top or settleth at the bottom. Bacon.
2. An extract got from a body by boiling it in water. If the plant be boiled in water, the strained liquor is called the decoction of the plant. Arbuthnot. In pharmacy decoction is opposed to infusion, where there is merely steeping. Latham.
DECOCTUREDe*coc"ture, n.
Defn: A decoction. [R.]
DECOHERERDe`co*her"er, n. [Pref. de- + coherer.] (Elec.)
Defn: A device for restoring a coherer to its normal condition after it has been affected by an electric wave, a process usually accomplished by some method of tapping or shaking, or by rotation of the coherer.
DECOLLATEDe*col"late, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decollated; p. pr. & vb. n.Decollating.] Etym: [L. decollatus, p. p. of decollare to behead; de-+ collum neck.]
Defn: To sever from the neck; to behead; to decapitate.The decollated head of St. John the Baptist. Burke.
DECOLLATEDDe*col"la*ted, a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Decapitated; worn or cast off in the process of growth, as the apex of certain univalve shells.
DECOLLATIONDe`col*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. decollatio: cf. F. décollation.]
1. The act of beheading or state of one beheaded; — especially used of the execution of St. John the Baptist.
2. A painting representing the beheading of a saint or martyr, esp. of St. John the Baptist.
DECOLLETAGEDé`col`le*tage" (da`ko`l'*tazh), n. [F. See Décolleté.] (Costume)
Defn: The upper border or part of a décolleté corsage.
DECOLLETE Dé`col`le*té", a. Etym: [F., p. p. of décolleter to bare the neck and shoulders; dé- + collet collar, fr. L. collum neck.]
Defn: Leaving the neck and shoulders uncovered; cut low in the neck, or low-necked, as a dress.
DECOLLINGDe*col"ling, n.
Defn: Beheading. [R.]By a speedy dethroning and decolling of the king. ParliamentaryHistory (1648).
DECOLORDe*col"or, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. décolorer, L. decolorare. Cf.Discolor.]
Defn: To deprive of color; to bleach.
DECOLORANTDe*col"or*ant, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décolorant, p. pr.]
Defn: A substance which removes color, or bleaches.
DECOLORATEDe*col"or*ate, a. Etym: [L. decoloratus, p. p. of decolorare.]
Defn: Deprived of color.
DECOLORATEDe*col"or*ate, v. t.
Defn: To decolor.
DECOLORATIONDe*col`or*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. decoloratio: cf. F. décoloration.]
Defn: The removal or absence of color. Ferrand.
DECOLORIZEDe*col"or*ize, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of color; to whiten. Turner.— De*col`or*i*za"tion, n.
DECOMPLEXDe"com*plex`, a. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + complex.]
Defn: Repeatedly compound; made up of complex constituents.
DECOMPOSABLEDe`com*pos"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being resolved into constituent elements.
DECOMPOSEDe`com*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decomposed; p. pr. & vb. n.Decomposing.] Etym: [Cf. F. décomposer. Cf. Discompose.]
Defn: To separate the constituent parts of; to resolve into original elements; to set free from previously existing forms of chemical combination; to bring to dissolution; to rot or decay.
DECOMPOSEDe`com*pose", v. i.
Defn: To become resolved or returned from existing combinations; to undergo dissolution; to decay; to rot.
DECOMPOSEDDe`com*posed", a. (Zoöl.)
Defn: Separated or broken up; — said of the crest of birds when the feathers are divergent.
DECOMPOSITEDe`com*pos"ite, a. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + composite.]
1. Compounded more than once; compounded with things already composite.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: See Decompound, a., 2.
DECOMPOSITEDe`com*pos"ite, n.
Defn: Anything decompounded.Decomposites of three metals or more. Bacon.
DECOMPOSITION De*com`po*si"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. de- (in sense 3 intensive) + composition: cf. F. décomposition. Cf. Decomposition.]
1. The act or process of resolving the constituent parts of a compound body or substance into its elementary parts; separation into constituent part; analysis; the decay or dissolution consequent on the removal or alteration of some of the ingredients of a compound; disintegration; as, the decomposition of wood, rocks, etc.
2. The state of being reduced into original elements.
3. Repeated composition; a combination of compounds. [Obs.] Decomposition of forces. Same as Resolution of forces, under Resolution. — Decomposition of light, the division of light into the prismatic colors.
DECOMPOUNDDe`com*pound", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decompounded; p. pr. & vb. n.Decompounding.] Etym: [Pref. de- (intens. in sense 1) + compound, v.t.]
1. To compound or mix with that is already compound; to compound a second time.
2. To reduce to constituent parts; to decompose. It divides and decompounds objects into . . . parts. Hazlitt.
DECOMPOUNDDe`com*pound", a. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + compound, a.]
1. Compound of what is already compounded; compounded a second time.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Several times compounded or divided, as a leaf or stem; decomposite.
DECOMPOUNDDe`com*pound", n.
Defn: A decomposite.
DECOMPOUNDABLEDe`com*pound"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being decompounded.
DECONCENTRATEDe`con*cen"trate, v. t.
Defn: To withdraw from concentration; to decentralize. [R.]
DECONCENTRATIONDe*con`cen*tra"tion, n.
Defn: Act of deconcentrating. [R.]
DECONCOCTDe`con*coct", v. t.
Defn: To decompose. [R.] Fuller.
DECONSECRATEDe*con"se*crate, v. t.
Defn: To deprive of sacredness; to secularize.— De*con`se*cra"tion, n.
DECORAMENTDec"o*ra*ment, n. Etym: [L. decoramentum. See Decorate, v. t.]
Defn: Ornament. [Obs.] Bailey.
DECORATEDec"o*rate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorated; p. pr. & vb. n.Decorating.] Etym: [L. decoratus, p. p. of decorare, fr. decusornament; akin to decere to be becoming. See Decent.]
Defn: To deck with that which is becoming, ornamental, or honorary; to adorn; to beautify; to embellish; as, to decorate the person; to decorate an edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers; to decorate the mind with moral beauties; to decorate a hero with honors. Her fat neck was ornamented with jewels, rich bracelets decorated her arms. Thackeray.
Syn. — To adorn; embellish; ornament; beautify; grace. See Adorn. Decorated style (Arch.), a name given by some writers to the perfected English Gothic architecture; it may be considered as having flourished from about a. d. 1300 to a. d. 1375.