DECORATIONDec`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. decoratio: cf. F. décoration.]
1. The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation.
2. That which adorns, enriches, or beautifies; something added by way of embellishment; ornament. The hall was celebrated for . . . the richness of its decoration. Motley.
3. Specifically, any mark of honor to be worn upon the person, as a medal, cross, or ribbon of an order of knighthood, bestowed for services in war, great achievements in literature, art, etc. Decoration Day, a day, May 30, appointed for decorating with flowers the graves of the Union soldiers and sailors, who fell in the Civil War in the United States; Memorial Day. [U.S.]
DECORATION DAYDecoration Day.
Defn: = Memorial Day. [U. S.]
DECORATIVEDec"o*ra*tive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décoratif.]
Defn: Suited to decorate or embellish; adorning. — Dec"o*ra*tive*ness, n. Decorative art, fine art which has for its end ornamentation, rather than the representation of objects or events.
DECORATORDec"o*ra`tor, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décorateur.]
Defn: One who decorates, adorns, or embellishes; specifically, an artisan whose business is the decoration of houses, esp. their interior decoration.
DECOREDe*core", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. décorer. See Decorate.]
Defn: To decorate; to beautify. [Obs.]To decore and beautify the house of God. E. Hall.
DECOREMENTDe*core"ment, n.
Defn: Ornament. [Obs.]
DECOROUS De*co"rous, a. Etym: [L. dec, fr. decor comeliness, beauty; akin to decere. See Decent, and cf. Decorum.]
Defn: Suitable to a character, or to the time, place, and occasion; marked with decorum; becoming; proper; seemly; befitting; as, a decorous speech; decorous behavior; a decorous dress for a judge. A decorous pretext the war. Motley. — De*co"rous*ly, adv. — De*co"rous*ness, n.
DECORTICATEDe*cor"ti*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decorticated; p. pr. & vb. n.Decorticating.] Etym: [L. decorticatus, p. p. of decorticare to bark;de- + cortex bark.]
Defn: To divest of the bark, husk, or exterior coating; to husk; to peel; to hull. "Great barley dried and decorticated." Arbuthnot.
DECORTICATIONDe*cor`ti*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. decorticatio: cf. F. décortication.]
Defn: The act of stripping off the bark, rind, hull, or outer coat.
DECORTICATORDe*cor"ti*ca`tor, n.
Defn: A machine for decorticating wood, hulling grain, etc.; also, an instrument for removing surplus bark or moss from fruit trees.
DECORUMDe*cor"um, n. Etym: [L. dec, fr. dec. See Decorous.]
Defn: Propriety of manner or conduct; grace arising from suitableness of speech and behavior to one's own character, or to the place and occasion; decency of conduct; seemliness; that which is seemly or suitable. Negligent of the duties and decorums of his station. Hallam. If your master Would have a queen his beggar, you must tell him, That majesty, to keep decorum, must No less beg than a kingdom. Shak.
Syn. — Decorum, Dignity. Decorum, in accordance with its etymology, is that which is becoming in outward act or appearance; as, the decorum of a public assembly. Dignity springs from an inward elevation of soul producing a corresponding effect on the manners; as, dignity of personal appearance.
DECOYDe*coy", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decoyed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decoying.]Etym: [Pref. de- + coy; orig., to quiet, soothe, caress, entice. SeeCoy.]
Defn: To lead into danger by artifice; to lure into a net or snare; to entrap; to insnare; to allure; to entice; as, to decoy troops into an ambush; to decoy ducks into a net. Did to a lonely cot his steps decoy. Thomson. E'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy, The heart, distrusting, asks if this be joy. Goldsmith.
Syn.— To entice; tempt; allure; lure. See Allure.
DECOYDe*coy", n.
1. Anything intended to lead into a snare; a lure that deceives and misleads into danger, or into the power of an enemy; a bait.
2. A fowl, or the likeness of one, used by sportsmen to entice other fowl into a net or within shot.
3. A place into which wild fowl, esp. ducks, are enticed in order to take or shoot them.
4. A person employed by officers of justice, or parties exposed to injury, to induce a suspected person to commit an offense under circumstances that will lead to his detection.
DECOY-DUCKDe*coy"-duck`, n.
Defn: A duck used to lure wild ducks into a decoy; hence, a person employed to lure others into danger. Beau. & Fl.
DECOYERDe*coy"er, n.
Defn: One who decoys another.
DECOY-MANDe*coy"-man`, n.; pl. Decoy-men (.
Defn: A man employed in decoying wild fowl.
DECREASE De*crease", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decreased; p. pr. & vb. n. Decreasing.] Etym: [OE. decrecen, fr. OF. decreistre, F. décroître, or from the OF. noun (see Decrease, n.), fr. L. decrescere to grow less; de + crescere to grow. See Crescent, and cf. Increase.]
Defn: To grow less, — opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc., or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December. He must increase, but I must decrease. John iii. 30.
Syn. — To Decrease, Diminish. Things usually decrease or fall off by degrees, and from within, or through some cause which is imperceptible; as, the flood decreases; the cold decreases; their affection has decreased. Things commonly diminish by an influence from without, or one which is apparent; as, the army was diminished by disease; his property is diminishing through extravagance; their affection has diminished since their separation their separation. The turn of thought, however, is often such that these words may be interchanged. The olive leaf, which certainly them told The flood decreased. Drayton. Crete's ample fields diminish to our eye; Before the Boreal blasts the vessels fly. Pope.
DECREASEDe*crease", v. t.
Defn: To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagancedecreases one's means.That might decrease their present store. Prior.
DECREASEDe*crease", n. Etym: [OE. decrees, OF. decreis, fr. decreistre. SeeDecrease, v.]
1. A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
2. The wane of the moon. Bacon.
DECREASELESSDe*crease"less, a.
Defn: Suffering no decrease. [R.] It [the river] flows and flows, and yet will flow, Volume decreaseless to the final hour. A. Seward.
DECREASINGDe*creas"ing, a.
Defn: Becoming less and less; diminishing. — De*creas"ing*ly, adv. Decreasing series (Math.), a series in which each term is numerically smaller than the preceding term.
DECREATIONDe`cre*a"tion, n.
Defn: Destruction; — opposed to creation. [R.] Cudworth.
DECREEDe*cree", n. Etym: [OE. decre, F. décret, fr. L. decretum, neut.decretus, p. p. of decernere to decide; de- + cernere to decide. SeeCertain, and cf. Decreet, Decretal.]
1. An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding what is to be done or to take place; edict, law; authoritative ru "The decrees of Venice." Sh There went out a decree from Cæsar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. Luke ii. 1. Poor hand, why quiverest thou at this decree Shak.
2. (Law) (a) A decision, order, or sentence, given in a cause by a court of equity or admiralty. (b) A determination or judgment of an umpire on a case submitted to him. Brande.
3. (Eccl.)
Defn: An edict or law made by a council for regulating any business within their jurisdiction; as, the decrees of ecclesiastical councils.
Syn.— Law; regulation; edict; ordinance. See Law.
DECREEDe*cree", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decreed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decreeing.]
1. To determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to constitute by edict; to appoint by decree or law; to determine; to order; to ordain; as, a court decrees a restoration of property. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee. Job xxii. 28.
2. To ordain by fate.
DECREEDe*cree", v. i.
Defn: To make decrees; — used absolutely. Father eternal! thine is to decree; Mine, both in heaven and earth to do thy will. Milton.
DECREEABLEDe*cree"a*ble, a.
Defn: Capable of being decreed.
DECREERDe*cre"er, n.
Defn: One who decrees. J. Goodwin.
DECREETDe*creet", n. Etym: [Cf. Decree.] (Scots Law)
Defn: The final judgment of the Court of Session, or of an inferior court, by which the question at issue is decided.
DECREMENTDec"re*ment, n. Etym: [L. decrementum, fr. decrescere. See Decrease.]
1. The state of becoming gradually less; decrease; diminution; waste; loss. Twit me with the decrements of my pendants. Ford. Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth suffer a continual decrement. Woodward.
2. The quantity lost by gradual diminution or waste; — opposed to Ant: increment.
3. (Crystallog.)
Defn: A name given by Haüy to the successive diminution of the layers of molecules, applied to the faces of the primitive form, by which he supposed the secondary forms to be produced.
4. (Math.)
Defn: The quantity by which a variable is diminished. Equal decrement of life. (a) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that of a given large number of persons, all being now of the same age, an equal number shall die each consecutive year. (b) The decrease of life in a group of persons in which the assumed law of mortality is such that the ratio of those dying in a year to those living through the year is constant, being independent of the age of the persons.
DECREPIT De*crep"it, a. Etym: [L. decrepitus, perhaps orig., noised out, noiseless, applied to old people, who creep about quietly; de- + crepare to make a noise, rattle: cf. F. décrépit. See Crepitate.]
Defn: Broken down with age; wasted and enfeebled by the infirmities of old age; feeble; worn out. "Beggary or decrepit age." Milton. Already decrepit with premature old age. Motley.
Note: Sometimes incorrectly written decrepid.
DECREPITATEDe*crep"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decrepitated; p. pr. & vb. n.Decrepitating.] Etym: [Cf. F. décrépiter.]
Defn: To roast or calcine so as to cause a crackling noise; as, to decrepitate salt.
DECREPITATEDe*crep"i*tate, v. i.
Defn: To crackle, as salt in roasting.
DECREPITATIONDe*crep`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décrépitation.]
Defn: The act of decrepitating; a crackling noise, such as salt makes when roasting.
DECREPITNESSDe*crep"it*ness, n.
Defn: Decrepitude. [R.] Barrow.
DECREPITUDEDe*crep"i*tude, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décrépitude.]
Defn: The broken state produced by decay and the infirmities of age; infirm old age.
DECRESCENDODe`cres*cen"do, a. & adv. Etym: [It.] (Mus.)
Defn: With decreasing volume of sound; — a direction to performers, either written upon the staff (abbreviated Dec., or Decresc.), or indicated by the sign.
DECRESCENTDe*cres"cent, a. Etym: [L. decrescens, p. pr. of decrescere. SeeDecrease.]
Defn: Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a decrescent moon.
DECRESCENTDe*cres"cent, n. (Her.)
Defn: A crescent with the horns directed towards the sinister.Cussans.
DECRETALDe*cre"tal, a. Etym: [L. decretalis, fr. decretum. See Decree.]
Defn: Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle. Ayliffe.
DECRETALDe*cre"tal, n. Etym: [LL. decretale, neut. of L. decretalis. SeeDecretal, a.]
1. (R. C. Ch.)
Defn: An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The decretals form the second part of the canon law.
2. (Canon Law)
Defn: The collection of ecclesiastical decrees and decisions made, by order of Gregory IX., in 1234, by St. Raymond of Pennafort.
DECRETEDe*crete", n. Etym: [L. decretum. See Decree.]
Defn: A decree. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DECRETIONDe*cre"tion, n. Etym: [From L. decrescere, decretum. See Decrease.]
Defn: A decrease. [Obs.] Pearson.
DECRETIST De*cre"tist, n. Etym: [LL. decretista, fr. decretum: cf. F. décrétiste. See Decree, n.]
Defn: One who studies, or professes the knowledge of, the decretals.
DECRETIVEDe*cre"tive, a. Etym: [From L. decretum. See Decree, n.]
Defn: Having the force of a decree; determining.The will of God is either decretive or perceptive. Bates.
DECRETORIALDec`re*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Decretory; authoritative. Sir T. Browne.
DECRETORILYDec"re*to*ri*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decretory or definitive manner; by decree.
DECRETORYDec"re*to*ry, a. Etym: [L. decretorius, from decretum. See Decree.]
1. Established by a decree; definitive; settled. The decretory rigors of a condemning sentence. South.
2. Serving to determine; critical. "The critical or decretory days." Sir T. Browne.
DECREW De*crew", v. i. Etym: [F. décrue, n., decrease, and décru, p. p. of décroître. See Decrease, and cf. Accrue.]
Defn: To decrease. [Obs.] Spenser.
DECRIALDe*cri"al, n. Etym: [See Decry.]
Defn: A crying down; a clamorous censure; condemnation by censure.
DECRIERDe*cri"er, n.
Defn: One who decries.
DECROWNDe*crown", v. t.
Defn: To deprive of a crown; to discrown. [R.] Hakewill.
DECRUSTATIONDe`crus*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. décrustation.]
Defn: The removal of a crust.
DECRYDe*cry", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying.]Etym: [F. décrier, OF. descrier; pref. des- (L. dis-) + crier to cry.See Cry, and cf. Descry.]
Defn: To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage. For small errors they whole plays decry. Dryden. Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other. Addison.
Syn. — To Decry, Depreciate, Detract, Disparage. Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs it.
DECUBATIONDec`u*ba"tion, n. Etym: [From L. decubare; de- + cubare. SeeDecumbent.]
Defn: Act of lying down; decumbence. [Obs.] Evelyn.
DECUBITUS De*cu"bi*tus, n. Etym: [NL., fr. L. de- + cubare, to lie down: cf. F. décubitus.] (Med.)
Defn: An attitude assumed in lying down; as, the dorsal decubitus.
DECULASSEMENT; DECULASSMENTDé`cu`lasse`ment", n. [F.] Also, sometimes, AnglicizedDec`u*lass"ment. (Ordnance)
Defn: An accidental blowing off of, or other serious damage to, the breechblock of a gun; also, a removal of the breechblock for the purpose of disabling the gun.
DECUMAN Dec"u*man, a. Etym: [L. decumanus of the tenth, and by metonymy, large, fr. decem ten.]
Defn: Large; chief; — applied to an extraordinary billow, supposed by some to be every tenth in order. [R.] Also used substantively. "Such decuman billows." Gauden. "The baffled decuman." Lowell.
DECUMBENCE; DECUMBENCYDe*cum"bence, De*cum"ben*cy, n.
Defn: The act or posture of lying down.The ancient manner of decumbency. Sir T. Browne.
DECUMBENT De*cum"bent, a. Etym: [L. decumbens, -entis, p. pr. of decumbere; de- + cumbere (only in comp.), cubare to lie down.]
1. Lying down; prostrate; recumbent. The decumbent portraiture of a woman. Ashmole.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending to rise at the summit or apex; as, a decumbent stem. Gray.
DECUMBENTLYDe*cum"bent*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decumbent posture.
DECUMBITUREDe*cum"bi*ture, n.
1. Confinement to a sick bed, or time of taking to one's bed from sickness. Boyle.
2. (Astrol.)
Defn: Aspect of the heavens at the time of taking to one's sick bed, by which the prognostics of recovery or death were made.
DECUPLEDec"u*ple, a. Etym: [F. décuple, L. decuplus, fr. decem ten.]
Defn: Tenfold. [R.]
DECUPLEDec"u*ple, n.
Defn: A number ten times repeated. [R.]
DECUPLEDec"u*ple, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decupled; p. pr. & vb. n. Decupling.]
Defn: To make tenfold; to multiply by ten. [R.]
DECURION De*cu"ri*on, n. Etym: [L. decurio, decurionis, fr. decuria a squad of ten, fr. decem ten.] (Rom. Antiq.)
Defn: A head or chief over ten; especially, an officer who commanded a division of ten soldiers.
DECURIONATEDe*cu"ri*on*ate, n. Etym: [L. decurionatus, fr. decurio.]
Defn: The office of a decurion.
DECURRENCEDe*cur"rence, n.
Defn: The act of running down; a lapse. [R.] Gauden.
DECURRENT De*cur"rent, a. Etym: [L. decurrens, -entis, p. pr. of decurrere to run down; de- + currere to run: cf. F. décurrent.] (Bot.)
Defn: Extending downward; — said of a leaf whose base extends downward and forms a wing along the stem. — De*cur"rent*ly, adv.
DECURSIONDe*cur"sion, n. Etym: [L. decursio, fr. decurrere. See Decurrent.]
Defn: A flowing; also, a hostile incursion. [Obs.] Sir M. Hale.
DECURSIVEDe*cur"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décursif. See Decurrent.]
Defn: Running down; decurrent.
DECURSIVELYDe*cur"sive*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decursive manner. Decursively pinnate (Bot.), having the leaflets decurrent, or running along the petiole; — said of a leaf.
DECURTDe*curt", v. t. Etym: [L. decurtare; de- + curtare.]
Defn: To cut short; to curtail. [Obs.] Bale.
DECURTATIONDe`cur*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. decurtatio.]
Defn: Act of cutting short. [Obs.]
DECURYDec"u*ry, n.; pl. Decuries. Etym: [L. decuria, fr. decem ten.]
Defn: A set or squad of ten men under a decurion. Sir W. Raleigh.
DECUSSATE De*cus"sate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decussated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decussating.] Etym: [L. decussatus, p. p. of decussare to cross like an X, fr. decussis (orig. equiv. to decem asses) the number ten, which the Romans represented by X.]
Defn: To cross at an acute angle; to cut or divide in the form of X; to intersect; — said of lines in geometrical figures, rays of light, nerves, etc.
DECUSSATE; DECUSSATEDDe*cus"sate, De*cus"sa*ted, a.
1. Crossed; intersected.
2. (Bot.)
Defn: Growing in pairs, each of which is at right angles to the next pair above or below; as, decussated leaves or branches.
3. (Rhet.)
Defn: Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in alternate opposition to each other; as, a decussated period.
DECUSSATELYDe*cus"sate*ly, adv.
Defn: In a decussate manner.
DECUSSATIONDe`cus*sa"tion, n. Etym: [L. decussatio.]
Defn: Act of crossing at an acute angle, or state of being thus crossed; an intersection in the form of an X; as, the decussation of lines, nerves, etc.
DECUSSATIVEDe*cus"sa*tive, a.
Defn: Intersecting at acute angles. Sir T. Browne.
DECUSSATIVELYDe*cus"sa*tive*ly, adv.
Defn: Crosswise; in the form of an X. "Anointed decussatively." SirT. Browne.
DECYLDe"cyl, n. Etym: [L. decem ten + -yl.] (Chem.)
Defn: A hydrocarbon radical, C10H21, never existing alone, but regarded as the characteristic constituent of a number of compounds of the paraffin series.
DECYLICDe*cyl"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Allied to, or containing, the radical decyl.
DEDALIANDe*dal"ian, a.
Defn: See Dædalian.
DEDALOUSDed"a*lous, a.
Defn: See Dædalous.
DEDANSDe*dans", n. Etym: [F.] (Court Tennis)
Defn: A division, at one end of a tennis court, for spectators.
DEDEDede, a.
Defn: Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEDECORATE De*dec"o*rate, v. t. Etym: [L. dedecoratus, p. p. of dedecorare to disgrace. See Decorate.]
Defn: To bring to shame; to disgrace. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEDECORATIONDe*dec`o*ra"tion, n. Etym: [L. dedecoratio.]
Defn: Disgrace; dishonor. [Obs.] Bailey.
DEDECOROUSDe*dec"o*rous, a. Etym: [L. dedecorus. See Decorous.]
Defn: Disgraceful; unbecoming. [R.] Bailey.
DEDENTITIONDe`den*ti"tion, n.
Defn: The shedding of teeth. [R.] Sir T. Browne.
DEDICATE Ded"i*cate, p. a. Etym: [L. dedicatus, p. p. of dedicare to affirm, to dedicate; de- + dicare to declare, dedicate; akin to dicere to say. See Diction.]
Defn: Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated. "Dedicate to nothing temporal." Shak.
Syn.— Devoted; consecrated; addicted.
DEDICATEDed"i*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dedicated; p. pr. & vb. n.Dedicating.]
1. To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use. Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord. 2 Sam. viii. 10, 11. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. . . . But in a larger sense we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. A. Lincoln.
2. To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty orservice.The profession of a soldier, to which he had dedicated himself.Clarendon.
3. To inscribe or address, as to a patron. He complied ten elegant books, and dedicated them to the Lord Burghley. Peacham.
Syn.— See Addict.
DEDICATEEDed`i*ca*tee", n.
Defn: One to whom a thing is dedicated; — correlative to dedicator.
DEDICATIONDed`i*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. dedicatio.]
1. The act of setting apart or consecrating to a divine Being, or to a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation; as, the dedication of Solomon's temple.
2. A devoting or setting aside for any particular purpose; as, a dedication of lands to public use.
3. An address to a patron or friend, prefixed to a book, testifying respect, and often recommending the work to his special protection and favor.
DEDICATORDed"i*ca`tor, n. Etym: [L.: cf. F. dédicateur.]
Defn: One who dedicates; more especially, one who inscribes a book to the favor of a patron, or to one whom he desires to compliment.
DEDICATORIALDed`i*ca*to"ri*al, a.
Defn: Dedicatory.
DEDICATORYDed"i*ca*to*ry, a. Etym: [Cf. F. dédicatoire.]
Defn: Constituting or serving as a dedication; complimental. "An epistle dedicatory." Dryden.
DEDICATORYDed"i*ca*to*ry, n.
Defn: Dedication. [R.] Milton.
DEDIMUS Ded"i*mus, n. Etym: [L. dedimus we have given, fr. dare to give. So called because the writ began, Dedimus potestatem, etc.] (Law)
Defn: A writ to commission private persons to do some act in place of a judge, as to examine a witness, etc. Bouvier.
DEDITION De*di"tion, n. Etym: [L. deditio, fr. dedere to give away, surrender; de- + dare to give.]
Defn: The act of yielding; surrender. [R.] Sir M. Hale.
DEDOLENT Ded"o*lent, a. Etym: [L. dedolens, p. pr. of dedolere to give over grieving; de- + dolere to grieve.]
Defn: Feeling no compunction; apathetic. [R.] Hallywell.
DEDUCEDe*duce", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deduced; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducing.]Etym: [L. deducere; de- + ducere to lead, draw. See Duke, and cf.Deduct.]
1. To lead forth. [A Latinism] He should hither deduce a colony. Selden.
2. To take away; to deduct; to subtract; as, to deduce a part from the whole. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
3. To derive or draw; to derive by logical process; to obtain or arrive at as the result of reasoning; to gather, as a truth or opinion, from what precedes or from premises; to infer; — with from or out of. O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymes From the dire nation in its early times Pope. Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of deducing unknown truths from principles already known. Locke. See what regard will be paid to the pedigree which deduces your descent from kings and conquerors. Sir W. Scott.
DEDUCEMENTDe*duce"ment, n.
Defn: Inference; deduction; thing deduced. [R.] Dryden.
DEDUCIBILITYDe*du`ci*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deducibleness.
DEDUCIBLEDe*du"ci*ble, a.
1. Capable of being deduced or inferred; derivable by reasoning, as a result or consequence. All properties of a triangle depend on, and are deducible from, the complex idea of three lines including a space. Locke.
2. Capable of being brought down. [Obs.] As if God [were] deducible to human imbecility. State Trials (1649).
DEDUCIBLENESSDe*du"ci*ble*ness, n.
Defn: The quality of being deducible; deducibility.
DEDUCIBLYDe*du"ci*bly, adv.
Defn: By deduction.
DEDUCIVEDe*du"cive, a.
Defn: That deduces; inferential.
DEDUCTDe*duct", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deducted; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducting.]Etym: [L. deductus, p. p. of deducere to deduct. See Deduce.]
1. To lead forth or out. [Obs.] A people deducted out of the city of Philippos. Udall.
2. To take away, separate, or remove, in numbering, estimating, or calculating; to subtract; — often with from or out of. Deduct what is but vanity, or dress. Pope. Two and a half per cent should be deducted out of the pay of the foreign troops. Bp. Burnet. We deduct from the computation of our years that part of our time which is spent in . . . infancy. Norris.
3. To reduce; to diminish. [Obs.] "Do not deduct it to days." Massinger.
DEDUCTIBLEDe*duct"i*ble, a.
1. Capable of being deducted, taken away, or withdrawn. Not one found honestly deductible From any use that pleased him. Mrs. Browning.
2. Deducible; consequential.
DEDUCTIONDe*duc"tion, n. Etym: [L. deductio: cf. F. déduction.]
1. Act or process of deducing or inferring. The deduction of one language from another. Johnson. This process, by which from two statements we deduce a third, is called deduction. J. R. Seely.
2. Act of deducting or taking away; subtraction; as, the deduction of the subtrahend from the minuend.
3. That which is deduced or drawn from premises by a process of reasoning; an inference; a conclusion. Make fair deductions; see to what they mount. Pope.
4. That which is deducted; the part taken away; abatement; as, a deduction from the yearly rent.
Syn.— See Induction.
DEDUCTIVEDe*duct"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. L. deductivus derivative.]
Defn: Of or pertaining to deduction; capable of being deduced frompremises; deducible.All knowledge of causes is deductive. Glanvill.Notions and ideas . . . used in a deductive process. Whewell.
DEDUCTIVELYDe*duct"ive*ly, adv.
Defn: By deduction; by way of inference; by consequence. Sir T.Browne.
DEDUCTORDe*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., a guide. See Deduce.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: The pilot whale or blackfish.
DEDUITDe*duit", n. Etym: [F. déduit. Cf. Deduct.]
Defn: Delight; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEDUPLICATIONDe*du`pli*ca"tion, n. Etym: [Pref. de- + duplication.] (Biol.)
Defn: The division of that which is morphologically one organ into two or more, as the division of an organ of a plant into a pair or cluster.
DEEDDeed, a.
Defn: Dead. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEED Deed, n. Etym: [AS. d; akin to OS. dad, D. & Dan. daad, G. thai, Sw. dåd, Goth. d; fr. the root of do. See Do, v. t.]
1. That which is done or effected by a responsible agent; an act; an action; a thing done; — a word of extensive application, including, whatever is done, good or bad, great or small. And Joseph said to them, What deed is this which ye have done Gen. xliv. 15. We receive the due reward of our deeds. Luke xxiii. 41. Would serve his kind in deed and word. Tennyson.
2. Illustrious act; achievement; exploit. "Knightly deeds." Spenser. Whose deeds some nobler poem shall adorn. Dryden.
3. Power of action; agency; efficiency. [Obs.] To be, both will and deed, created free. Milton.
4. Fact; reality; — whence we have indeed.
5. (Law)
Defn: A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract.
Note: The term is generally applied to conveyances of real estate, and it is the prevailing doctrine that a deed must be signed as well as sealed, though at common law signing was formerly not necessary. Blank deed, a printed form containing the customary legal phraseology, with blank spaces for writing in names, dates, boundaries, etc.
6. Performance; — followed by of. [Obs.] Shak. In deed, in fact; in truth; verily. See Indeed.
DEEDDeed, v. t.
Defn: To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son. [Colloq. U. S.]
DEEDFULDeed"ful, a.
Defn: Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [R.] "A deedful life." Tennyson.
DEEDLESSDeed"less, a.
Defn: Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits;inactive.Deedless in his tongue. Shak.
DEED POLLDeed" poll`. (Law)
Defn: A deed of one part, or executed by only one party, and distinguished from an indenture by having the edge of the parchment or paper cut even, or polled as it was anciently termed, instead of being indented. Burrill.
DEEDYDeed"y, a.
Defn: Industrious; active. [R.] Cowper.
DEEMDeem, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deemed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deeming.] Etym:[OE. demen to judge, condemn, AS. d, fr. d doom; akin to OFries. d,OS. ad, D. doemen, OHG. tuommen, Icel. dæma, Sw. dömma, Dan. dömme,Goth. d. See Doom, n., and cf. Doom, v.]
1. To decide; to judge; to sentence; to condemn. [Obs.] Claudius . . . Was demed for to hang upon a tree. Chaucer.
2. To account; to esteem; to think; to judge; to hold in opinion; to regard. For never can I deem him less him less than god. Dryden.
DEEMDeem, v. i.
1. To be of opinion; to think; to estimate; to opine; to suppose. And deemest thou as those who pore, With aged eyes, short way before Emerson.
2. To pass judgment. [Obs.] Spenser.
DEEMDeem, n.
Defn: Opinion; judgment. [Obs.] Shak.
DEEMSTERDeem"ster, n. Etym: [Deem + -ster; i. e., doomster. Cf. Dempster.]
Defn: A judge in the Isle of Man who decides controversies without process. Cowell.
DEEP Deep, a. [Compar. Deeper; superl. Deepest.] Etym: [OE. dep, deop, AS. deóp; akin to D. diep, G. tief, Icel. dj, Sw. diup, Dan. dyb, Goth. diups; fr. the root of E. dip, dive. See Dip, Dive.]
1. Extending far below the surface; of great perpendicular dimension (measured from the surface downward, and distinguished from high, which is measured upward); far to the bottom; having a certain depth; as, a deep sea. The water where the brook is deep. Shak.
2. Extending far back from the front or outer part; of great horizontal dimension (measured backward from the front or nearer part, mouth, etc.); as, a deep cave or recess or wound; a gallery ten seats deep; a company of soldiers six files deep. Shadowing squadrons deep. Milton. Safely in harbor Is the king's ship in the deep nook. Shak.
3. Low in situation; lying far below the general surface; as, a deep valley.
4. Hard to penetrate or comprehend; profound; — opposed to shallow or superficial; intricate; mysterious; not obvious; obscure; as, a deep subject or plot. Speculations high or deep. Milton. A question deep almost as the mystery of life. De Quincey. O Lord, . . . thy thought are very deep. Ps. xcii. 5.
5. Of penetrating or far-reaching intellect; not superficial; thoroughly skilled; sagacious; cunning. Deep clerks she dumbs. Shak.
6. Profound; thorough; complete; unmixed; intense; heavy; heartfelt; as, deep distress; deep melancholy; deep horror. "Deep despair." Milton. "Deep silence." Milton. "Deep sleep." Gen. ii. 21. "Deeper darkness." Hoole. "Their deep poverty." 2 Cor. viii. 2. An attitude of deep respect. Motley.
7. Strongly colored; dark; intense; not light or thin; as, deep blue or crimson.
8. Of low tone; full-toned; not high or sharp; grave; heavy. "The deep thunder." Byron. The bass of heaven's deep organ. Milton.
9. Muddy; boggy; sandy; — said of roads. Chaucer. The ways in that vale were very deep. Clarendon. A deep line of operations (Military), a long line. — Deep mourning (Costume), mourning complete and strongly marked, the garments being not only all black, but also composed of lusterless materials and of such fashion as is identified with mourning garments.
DEEPDeep, adv.
Defn: To a great depth; with depth; far down; profoundly; deeply.Deep-versed in books, and shallow in himself. Milton.Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring. Pope.
Note: Deep, in its usual adverbial senses, is often prefixed to an adjective; as, deep-chested, deep-cut, deep-seated, deep-toned, deep- voiced, "deep-uddered kine."
DEEPDeep, n.
1. That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; anabyss; a great depth.Courage from the deeps of knowledge springs. Cowley.The hollow deep of hell resounded. Milton.Blue Neptune storms, the bellowing deeps resound. Pope.
2. That which is profound, not easily fathomed, or incomprehensible; a moral or spiritual depth or abyss. Thy judgments are a great. Ps. xxxvi. 6. Deep of night, the most quiet or profound part of night; dead of night. The deep of night is crept upon our talk. Shak.
DEEPENDeep"en, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deepened; p. pr. & vb. n. Deepening.]
1. To make deep or deeper; to increase the depth of; to sink lower; as, to deepen a well or a channel. It would . . . deepen the bed of the Tiber. Addison.
2. To make darker or more intense; to darken; as, the event deepened the prevailing gloom. You must deepen your colors. Peacham.
3. To make more poignant or affecting; to increase in degree; as, to deepen grief or sorrow.
4. To make more grave or low in tone; as, to deepen the tones of an organ. Deepens the murmur of the falling floods. Pope.
DEEPENDeep"en, v. i.
Defn: To become deeper; as, the water deepens at every cast of the lead; the plot deepens. His blood-red tresses deepening in the sun. Byron.
DEEP-FETDeep"-fet`, a.
Defn: Deeply fetched or drawn. [Obs.] "Deep-fet groans." Shak.
DEEP-LAIDDeep"-laid`, a.
Defn: Laid deeply; formed with cunning and sagacity; as, deep-laid plans.
DEEPLYDeep"ly, adv.
1. At or to a great depth; far below the surface; as, to sink deeply.
2. Profoundly; thoroughly; not superficially; in a high degree; intensely; as, deeply skilled in ethics. He had deeply offended both his nobles and people. Bacon. He sighed deeply in his spirit. Mark viii. 12.
3. Very; with a tendency to darkness of color. The deeply red juice of buckthorn berries. Boyle.
4. Gravely; with low or deep tone; as, a deeply toned instrument.
5. With profound skill; with art or intricacy; as, a deeply laid plot or intrigue.
DEEP-MOUTHEDDeep"-mouthed`, a.
Defn: Having a loud and sonorous voice. "Deep-mouthed dogs." Dryden.
DEEPNESSDeep"ness, n.
1. The state or quality of being deep, profound, mysterious, secretive, etc.; depth; profundity; — opposed to shallowness. Because they had no deepness of earth. Matt. xiii. 5.
2. Craft; insidiousness. [R.] J. Gregory.
DEEP-READDeep"-read`, a.
Defn: Profoundly book-learned. "Great writers and deep-read men."L'Estrange.
DEEP-SEADeep"-sea`, a.
Defn: Of or pertaining to the deeper parts of the sea; as, a deep-sea line (i. e., a line to take soundings at a great depth); deep-sea lead; deep-sea soundings, explorations, etc.
DEEP-WAISTEDDeep"-waist`ed, a. (Naut.)
Defn: Having a deep waist, as when, in a ship, the poop and forecastle are much elevated above the deck.
DEER Deer, n. sing. & pl. Etym: [OE. der, door, animal, wild animal, AS. deór; akin to D. dier, OFries. diar, G. thier, tier, Icel. d, Dan. dyr, Sw. djur, Goth. dius; of unknown origin.
1. Any animal; especially, a wild animal. [Obs.] Chaucer. Mice and rats, and such small deer. Shak. The camel, that great deer. Lindisfarne MS.
2. (Zoöl.)
Defn: A ruminant of the genus Cervus, of many species, and of related genera of the family Cervidæ. The males, and in some species the females, have solid antlers, often much branched, which are shed annually. Their flesh, for which they are hunted, is called venison.
Note: The deer hunted in England is Cervus elaphus, called also stagor red deer; the fallow deer is C. dama; the common American deer isC. Virginianus; the blacktailed deer of Western North America is C.Columbianus; and the mule deer of the same region is C. macrotis. SeeAxis, Fallow deer, Mule deer, Reindeer.
Note: Deer is much used adjectively, or as the first part of a compound; as, deerkiller, deerslayer, deerslaying, deer hunting, deer stealing, deerlike, etc. Deer mouse (Zoöl.), the white-footed mouse (Hesperomys leucopus) of America. — Small deer, petty game, not worth pursuing; — used metaphorically. (See citation from Shakespeare under the first definition, above.) "Minor critics . . . can find leisure for the chase of such small deer." G. P. Marsh.
DEERBERRYDeer"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A shrub of the blueberry group (Vaccinium stamineum); also, its bitter, greenish white berry; — called also squaw huckleberry.
DEERGRASSDeer"grass`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: An American genus (Rhexia) of perennial herbs, with opposite leaves, and showy flowers (usually bright purple), with four petals and eight stamens, — the only genus of the order Melastomaceæ inhabiting a temperate clime.
DEERHOUNDDeer"hound`, n. (Zoöl.)
Defn: One of a large and fleet breed of hounds used in hunting deer; a staghound.
DEERLETDeer"let, n. Etym: [Deer + -let.] (Zoöl.)
Defn: A chevrotain. See Kanchil, and Napu.
DEER-NECKDeer"-neck`, n.
Defn: A deerlike, or thin, ill-formed neck, as of a horse.
DEERSKINDeer"skin`, n.
Defn: The skin of a deer, or the leather which is made from it.Hakluyt. Longfellow.
DEERSTALKERDeer"stalk`er, n.
Defn: One who practices deerstalking.
DEERSTALKINGDeer"stalk`ing, n.
Defn: The hunting of deer on foot, by stealing upon them unawares.
DEER'S-TONGUEDeer's"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)
Defn: A plant (Liatris odoratissima) whose fleshy leaves give out a fragrance compared to vanilla. Wood.
DEESDees, n. pl.
Defn: Dice. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEESDees, n.
Defn: A dais. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEESISDe*e"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)
Defn: An invocation of, or address to, the Supreme Being.
DEESSDe"ess, n. Etym: [F. déesse, fem. of dieu god.]
Defn: A goddess. [Obs.] Croft.
DEEVDeev, n. (Hind. & Pers. Myth.)
Defn: See Dev.
DEFACEDe*face", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defaced; p. pr. & vb. n. Defacing.]Etym: [OE. defacen to disfigure, efface, OF. desfacier; L. dis- +facies face. See Face, and cf. Efface.]
1. To destroy or mar the face or external appearance of; to disfigure; to injure, spoil, or mar, by effacing or obliterating important features or portions of; as, to deface a monument; to deface an edifice; to deface writing; to deface a note, deed, or bond; to deface a record. "This high face defaced." Emerson. So by false learning is good sense defaced. Pope.
2. Etym: [Cf. F. défaire.]
Defn: To destroy; to make null. [Obs.][Profane scoffing] doth . . . deface the reverence of religion.Bacon.For all his power was utterly defaste [defaced]. Spenser.
Syn.— See Efface.
DEFACEMENTDe*face"ment, n.
1. The act of defacing, or the condition of being defaced; injury to the surface or exterior; obliteration.
2. That which mars or disfigures. Bacon.
DEFACERDe*fa"cer, n.
Defn: One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.
DE FACTODe` fac"to. Etym: [L.]
Defn: Actually; in fact; in reality; as, a king de facto, — distinguished from a king de jure, or by right.
DEFAIL De*fail", v. t. Etym: [F. défaillir to fail; pref. dé- (L. de) + faillir. See Fail, and cf. Default.]
Defn: To cause fail. [Obs.]
DEFAILANCEDe*fail"ance, n. Etym: [F. défaillance.]
Defn: Failure; miscarriage. [Obs.]Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance. Comber.
DEFAILUREDe*fail"ure, n.
Defn: Failure. [Obs.] Barrow.
DEFALCATEDe*fal"cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defalcated; p. pr. & vb. n.Defalcating.] Etym: [LL. defalcatus, p. p. of defalcare to deduct,orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de- + falx, a sickle. SeeFalchion.]
Defn: To cut off; to take away or deduct a part of; — used chiefly of money, accounts, rents, income, etc. To show what may be practicably and safely defalcated from the [the estimates]. Burke.
DEFALCATEDe*fal"cate, v. i.
Defn: To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. "Some partner defalcating, or the like." Carlyle.
DEFALCATIONDe`fal*ca"tion, n. Etym: [LL. defalcatio: cf. F. défalcation.]
1. A lopping off; a diminution; abatement; deficit. Specifically: Reduction of a claim by deducting a counterclaim; set-off. Abbott.
2. That which is lopped off, diminished, or abated.
3. An abstraction of money, etc., by an officer or agent
DEFALCATORDef"al*ca`tor, n.
Defn: A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]
DEFALKDe*falk", v. t. Etym: [F. défalquer. See Defalcate.]
Defn: To lop off; to bate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.
DEFAMATIONDef`a*ma"tion, n. Etym: [OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. SeeDefame.]
Defn: Act of injuring another's reputation by any slanderous communication, written or oral; the wrong of maliciously injuring the good name of another; slander; detraction; calumny; aspersion.
Note: In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel, and oral defamation that of slander. Burrill.
DEFAMATORYDe*fam"a*to*ry, a.
Defn: Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious; slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory writings.
DEFAME De*fame", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defamed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defaming.] Etym: [OE. defamen, diffamen, from F. diffamer, or OF. perh. defamer, fr. L. diffamare (cf. defamatus infamous); dis- (in this word confused with de) + fama a report. See Fame.]
1. To harm or destroy the good fame or reputation of; to disgrace; especially, to speak evil of maliciously; to dishonor by slanderous reports; to calumniate; to asperse.
2. To render infamous; to bring into disrepute. My guilt thy growing virtues did defame; My blackness blotted thy unblemish'd name. Dryden.
3. To charge; to accuse. [R.] Rebecca is . . . defamed of sorcery practiced on the person of a noble knight. Sir W. Scott.
Syn.— To asperse; slander; calumniate; vilify. See Asperse.
DEFAMEDe*fame", n.
Defn: Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.
DEFAMERDe*fam"er, n.
Defn: One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.
DEFAMINGLYDe*fam"ing*ly, adv.
Defn: In a defamatory manner.
DEFAMOUSDef"a*mous, a.
Defn: Defamatory. [Obs.]
DEFATIGABLEDe*fat"i*ga*ble, a. Etym: [See Defatigate.]
Defn: Capable of being wearied or tired out. [R.] Glanvill.
DEFATIGATE De*fat"i*gate, v. t. Etym: [L. defatigatus, p. p. of defatigare; de- + fatigare to weary. See Fatigue.]
Defn: To weary or tire out; to fatigue. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.
DEFATIGATIONDe*fat`i*ga"tion, n. Etym: [L. defatigatio.]
Defn: Weariness; fatigue. [R.] Bacon.
DEFAULT De*fault", n. Etym: [OE. defaute, OF. defaute, defalte, fem., F. défaut, masc., LL. defalta, fr. a verb meaning, to be deficient, to want, fail, fr. L. de- + fallere to deceive. See Fault.]
1. A failing or failure; omission of that which ought to be done; neglect to do whaas, this evil has happened through the governor's default.
2. Fault; offense; ill deed; wrong act; failure in virtue or wisdom. And pardon craved for his so rash default. Spenser. Regardless of our merit or default. Pope.
3. (Law)
Defn: A neglect of, or failure to take, some step necessary to secure the benefit of law, as a failure to appear in court at a day assigned, especially of the defendant in a suit when called to make answer; also of jurors, witnesses, etc. In default of, in case of failure or lack of. Cooks could make artificial birds and fishes in default of the real ones. Arbuthnot. — To suffer a default (Law), to permit an action to be called without appearing to answer.
DEFAULTDe*fault", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defaulted; p. pr. & vb. n.Defaulting.]
1. To fail in duty; to offend. That he gainst courtesy so foully did default. Spenser.
2. To fail in fulfilling a contract, agreement, or duty.
3. To fail to appear in court; to let a case go by default.
DEFAULTDe*fault", v. t.
1. To fail to perform or pay; to be guilty of neglect of; to omit; as, to default a dividend. What they have defaulted towards him as no king. Milton.
2. (Law)
Defn: To call a defendant or other party whose duty it is to be present in court, and make entry of his default, if he fails to appear; to enter a default against.
3. To leave out of account; to omit. [Obs.] Defaulting unnecessary and partial discourses. Hales.
DEFAULTERDe*fault"er, n.
1. One who makes default; one who fails to appear in court when court when called.
2. One who fails to perform a duty; a delinquent; particularly, one who fails to account for public money intrusted to his care; a peculator; a defalcator.
DEFEASANCE De*fea"sance, n. Etym: [OF. defesance, fr. defesant, F. défaisant, p. pr. of defaire, F. défaire, to undo. See Defeat.]
1. A defeat; an overthrow. [Obs.] After his foes' defeasance. Spenser.
2. A rendering null or void.
3. (Law)
Defn: A condition, relating to a deed, which being performed, the deed is defeated or rendered void; or a collateral deed, made at the same time with a feoffment, or other conveyance, containing conditions, on the performance of which the estate then created may be defeated.
Note: Mortgages were usually made in this manner in former times, but the modern practice is to include the conveyance and the defeasance in the same deed.
DEFEASANCEDDe*fea"sanced, a. (Law)
Defn: Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.
DEFEASIBLEDe*fea"si*ble, a. Etym: [See Defeasance.]
Defn: Capable of being annulled or made void; as, a defeasible title.— De*fea"si*ble*ness, n.
DEFEATDe*feat", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.]Etym: [From F. défait, OF. desfait, p. p. ofe défaire, OF. desfaire,to undo; L. dis- + facere to do. See Feat, Fact, and cf. Disfashion.]
1. To undo; to disfigure; to destroy. [Obs.] His unkindness may defeat my life. Shak.
2. To render null and void, as a title; to frustrate, as hope; to deprive, as of an estate. He finds himself naturally to dread a superior Being that can defeat all his designs, and disappoint all his hopes. Tillotson. The escheators . . . defeated the right heir of his succession. Hallam. In one instance he defeated his own purpose. A. W. Ward.
3. To overcome or vanquish, as an army; to check, disperse, or ruin by victory; to overthrow.
4. To resist with success; as, to defeat an assault. Sharp reasons to defeat the law. Shak.
Syn.— To baffle; disappoint; frustrate.
DEFEATDe*feat", n. Etym: [Cf. F. défaite, fr. défaire. See Defeat, v.]
1. An undoing or annulling; destruction. [Obs.] Upon whose property and most dear life A damned defeat was made. Shak.
2. Frustration by rendering null and void, or by prevention of success; as, the defeat of a plan or design.
3. An overthrow, as of an army in battle; loss of a battle; repulse suffered; discomfiture; — opposed to victory.
DEFEATURE De*fea"ture, n. Etym: [OF. desfaiture a killing, disguising, prop., an undoing. See Defeat, and cf. Disfeature.]
1. Overthrow; defeat. [Obs.] "Nothing but loss in their defeature." Beau. & Fl.
2. Disfigurement; deformity. [Obs.] "Strange defeatures in my face." Shak.
DEFEATUREDDe*fea"tured, p. p.
Defn: Changed in features; deformed. [R.]Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described. DeQuincey.
DEFECATE Def"e*cate, a. Etym: [L. defaecatus, p. p. of defaecare to defecate; de- + faex, faecis, dregs, less.]
Defn: Freed from anything that can pollute, as dregs, lees, etc.;refined; purified.Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense. Bates.
DEFECATEDef"e*cate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defecated; p. pr. & vb. n.Defecating.]
1. To clear from impurities, as lees, dregs, etc.; to clarify; to purify; to refine. To defecate the dark and muddy oil of amber. Boyle.
2. To free from extraneous or polluting matter; to clear; to purify, as from that which materializes. We defecate the notion from materiality. Glanvill. Defecated from all the impurities of sense. Bp. Warburton.
DEFECATEDef"e*cate, v. i.
1. To become clear, pure, or free. Goldsmith.
2. To void excrement.
DEFECATIONDef`e*ca"tion, n. Etym: [L. defaecatio: cf. F. défécation.]
1. The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs; purification.
2. (Physiol.)
Defn: The act or process of voiding excrement.
DEFECATORDef"e*ca`tor, n.
Defn: That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.
DEFECTDe*fect", n. Etym: [L. defectus, fr. deficere, defectum, to desert,fail, be wanting; de- + facere to make, do. See Fact, Feat, and cf.Deficit.]
1. Want or absence of something necessary for completeness or perfection; deficiency; — opposed to superfluity. Errors have been corrected, and defects supplied. Davies.
2. Failing; fault; imperfection, whether physical or moral; blemish; as, a defect in the ear or eye; a defect in timber or iron; a defect of memory or judgment. Trust not yourself; but, your defects to know, Make use of every friend — any every foe. Pope. Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects. Macaulay.
Syn.— Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.
DEFECTDe*fect", v. i.
Defn: To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.
DEFECTDe*fect", v. t.
Defn: To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).
DEFECTIBILITYDe*fect`i*bil"i*ty, n.
Defn: Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.
DEFECTIBLEDe*fect"i*ble, a.
Defn: Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding."Jer. Taylor.
DEFECTIONDe*fec"tion, n. Etym: [L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect.]
Defn: Act of abandoning a person or cause to which one is bound by allegiance or duty, or to which one has attached himself; desertion; failure in duty; a falling away; apostasy; backsliding. "Defection and falling away from God." Sir W. Raleigh. The general defection of the whole realm. Sir J. Davies.
DEFECTIONISTDe*fec"tion*ist, n.