Chapter CXV: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (24)

5. Personified: The destroyer of life, -- conventionally represented as a skeleton with a scythe. Death! great proprietor of all. Young. And I looked, and behold a pale horse; and his name that at on him was Death. Rev. vi. 8.

6. Danger of death. "In deaths oft." 2 Cor. xi. 23.

7. Murder; murderous character. Not to suffer a man of death to live. Bacon.

8. (Theol.)

Defn: Loss of spiritual life. To be death. Rom. viii. 6.

9. Anything so dreadful as to be like death. It was death to them to think of entertaining such doctrines. Atterbury. And urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death. Judg. xvi. 16.

Note: Death is much used adjectively and as the first part of a compound, meaning, in general, of or pertaining to death, causing or presaging death; as, deathbed or death bed; deathblow or death blow, etc. Black death. See Black death, in the Vocabulary. -- Civil death, the separation of a man from civil society, or the debarring him from the enjoyment of civil rights, as by banishment, attainder, abjuration of the realm, entering a monastery, etc. Blackstone. -- Death adder. (Zoöl.) (a) A kind of viper found in South Africa (Acanthophis tortor); -- so called from the virulence of its venom. (b) A venomous Australian snake of the family Elapidæ, of several species, as the Hoplocephalus superbus and Acanthopis antarctica. -- Death bell, a bell that announces a death. The death bell thrice was heard to ring. Mickle. -- Death candle, a light like that of a candle, viewed by the superstitious as presaging death. -- Death damp, a cold sweat at the coming on of death. -- Death fire, a kind of ignis fatuus supposed to forebode death. And round about in reel and rout, The death fires danced at night. Coleridge. -- Death grapple, a grapple or struggle for life. -- Death in life, a condition but little removed from death; a living death. [Poetic] "Lay lingering out a five years' death in life." Tennyson. -- Death knell, a stroke or tolling of a bell, announcing a death. -- Death rate, the relation or ratio of the number of deaths to the population. At all ages the death rate is higher in towns than in rural districts. Darwin. -- Death rattle, a rattling or gurgling in the throat of a dying person. -- Death's door, the boundary of life; the partition dividing life from death. -- Death stroke, a stroke causing death. -- Death throe, the spasm of death. -- Death token, the signal of approaching death. -- Death warrant. (a) (Law) An order from the proper authority for the execution of a criminal. (b) That which puts an end to expectation, hope, or joy. -- Death wound. (a) A fatal wound or injury. (b) (Naut.) The springing of a fatal leak. -- Spiritual death (Scripture), the corruption and perversion of the soul by sin, with the loss of the favor of God. -- The gates of death, the grave. Have the gates of death been opened unto thee Job xxxviii. 17. -- The second death, condemnation to eternal separation from God. Rev. ii. 11. -- To be the death of, to be the cause of death to; to make die. "It was one who should be the death of both his parents." Milton.

Syn. -- Death, Decrase, Departure, Release. Death applies to the termination of every form of existence, both animal and vegetable; the other words only to the human race. Decease is the term used in law for the removal of a human being out of life in the ordinary course of nature. Demise was formerly confined to decease of princes, but is now sometimes used of distinguished men in general; as, the demise of Mr. Pitt. Departure and release are peculiarly terms of Christian affection and hope. A violent death is not usually called a decease. Departure implies a friendly taking leave of life. Release implies a deliverance from a life of suffering or sorrow.

DEATHBED Death"bed, n.

Defn: The bed in which a person dies; hence, the closing hours of life of one who dies by sickness or the like; the last sickness. That often-quoted passage from Lord Hervey in which the Queen's deathbed is described. Thackeray.

DEATHBIRD Death"bird`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Tengmalm's or Richardson's owl (Nyctale Tengmalmi); -- so called from a superstition of the North American Indians that its note presages death.

DEATHBLOW Death"blow`, n.

Defn: A mortal or crushing blow; a stroke or event which kills or destroys. The deathblow of my hope. Byron.

DEATHFUL Death"ful, a.

1. Full of death or slaughter; murderous; destructive; bloody. These eyes behold The deathful scene. Pope.

2. Liable to undergo death; mortal. The deathless gods and deathful earth. Chapman.

DEATHFULNESS Death"ful*ness, n.

Defn: Appearance of death. Jer. Taylor.

DEATHLESS Death"less, a.

Defn: Not subject to death, destruction, or extinction; immortal; undying; imperishable; as, deathless beings; deathless fame.

DEATHLIKE Death"like`, a.

1. Resembling death. A deathlike slumber, and a dead repose. Pope.

2. Deadly. [Obs.] "Deathlike dragons." Shak.

DEATHLINESS Death"li*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being deathly; deadliness. Southey.

DEATHLY Death"ly, a.

Defn: Deadly; fatal; mortal; destructive.

DEATHLY Death"ly, adv.

Defn: Deadly; as, deathly pale or sick.

DEATH'S-HEAD Death's"-head`, n.

Defn: A naked human skull as the emblem of death; the head of the conventional personification of death. I had rather be married to a death's-head with a bone in his mouth. Shak. Death's-head moth (Zoöl.), a very large European moth (Acherontia atropos), so called from a figure resembling a human skull on the back of the thorax; -- called also death's-head sphinx.

DEATH'S-HERB Death's"-herb`, n.

Defn: The deadly nightshade (Atropa belladonna). Dr. Prior.

DEATHSMAN Deaths"man, n.

Defn: An executioner; a headsman or hangman. [Obs.] Shak.

DEATHWARD Death"ward, adv.

Defn: Toward death.

DEATHWATCH Death"watch` (; 224), n.

1. (Zoöl.) (a) A small beetle (Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death. (b) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocidæ, which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick. She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches. Addison. I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat. Tennyson.

2. The guard set over a criminal before his execution.

DEAURATE De*au"rate, a. Etym: [L. deauratus, p. p. of deaurare to gild; de- + aurum gold.]

Defn: Gilded. [Obs.]

DEAURATE De*au"rate, v. t.

Defn: To gild. [Obs.] Bailey.

DEAURATION De`au*ra"tion, n.

Defn: Act of gilding. [Obs.]

DEAVE Deave, v. t. Etym: [See Deafen.]

Defn: To stun or stupefy with noise; to deafen. [Scot.]

DEBACCHATE De*bac"chate, v. i. Etym: [L. debacchatus, p. p. of debacchari to rage; de- + bacchari to rage like a bacchant.]

Defn: To rave as a bacchanal. [R.] Cockeram.

DEBACCHATION De`bac*cha"tion, n. Etym: [L. debacchatio.]

Defn: Wild raving or debauchery. [R.] Prynne.

DEBACLE De*ba"cle, n. Etym: [F. débâcle, fr. débâcler to unbar, break loose; pref. dé- (prob. = L. dis) + bâcler to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.] (Geol.)

Defn: A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses blocks of stone and other débris.

DEBAR De*bar", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debarred; p. pr. & vb. n. Debarring.] Etym: [Pref. de- + bar.]

Defn: To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from, and sometimes with of. Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed Labor, as to debar us when we need Refreshment. Milton. Their wages were so low as to debar them, not only from the comforts but from the common decencies of civilized life. Buckle.

DEBARB De*barb", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.]

Defn: To deprive of the beard. [Obs.] Bailey.

DEBARK De"bark", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debarked; p. pr. & vb. n. Debarking.] Etym: [F. débarquer; pref. dé- (L. dis-) + barque. See Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark.]

Defn: To go ashore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to put ashore.

DEBARKATION De`bar*ka"tion, n.

Defn: Disembarkation. The debarkation, therefore, had to take place by small steamers. U. S. Grant.

DEBARMENT De*bar"ment, n.

Defn: Hindrance from approach; exclusion.

DEBARRASS De*bar"rass, v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. débarrasser. See Embarrass.]

Defn: To disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]

DEBASE De*base", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debased; p. pr. & vb. n. Debasing.] Etym: [Pref. de- + base. See Base, a., and cf. Abase.]

Defn: To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words. The coin which was adulterated and debased. Hale. It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with such frivolous disputes. Hooker. And to debase the sons, exalts the sires. Pope.

Syn. -- To abase; degrade. See Abase.

DEBASED De*based", a. (Her.)

Defn: Turned upside down from its proper position; inverted; reversed.

DEBASEMENT De*base"ment, n.

Defn: The act of debasing or the state of being debased. Milton.

DEBASER De*bas"er, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, debases.

DEBASINGLY De*bas"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a manner to debase.

DEBATABLE De*bat"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. OF. debatable. See Debate.]

Defn: Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question. The Debatable Land or Ground, a tract of land between the Esk and the Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.

DEBATE De*bate", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] Etym: [OF. debatre, F. débattre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.]

1. To engage in combat for; to strive for. Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. Prescott.

2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against. A wise council . . . that did debate this business. Shak. Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. Prov. xxv. 9.

Syn. -- To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.

DEBATE De*bate", v. i.

1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] Chaucer. Well could he tourney and in lists debate. Spenser.

2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon. He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends. Tatler.

DEBATE De*bate", n. Etym: [F. débat, fr. débattre. See Debate, v. t.]

1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic] On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. R. of Gloucester. But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate. Sir W. Scott.

2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress. Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate. Pope.

3. Subject of discussion. [R.] Statutes and edicts concerning this debate. Milton.

DEBATEFUL De*bate"ful, a.

Defn: Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.] Spenser.

DEBATEFULLY De*bate"ful*ly, adv.

Defn: With contention. [Obs.]

DEBATEMENT De*bate"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. OF. debatement a beating.]

Defn: Controversy; deliberation; debate. [R.] A serious question and debatement with myself. Milton.

DEBATER De*bat"er, n.

Defn: One who debates; one given to argument; a disputant; a controvertist. Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters. Shak.

DEBATING De*bat"ing, n.

Defn: The act of discussing or arguing; discussion. Debating society or club, a society or club for the purpose of debate and improvement in extemporaneous speaking.

DEBATINGLY De*bat"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In the manner of a debate.

DEBAUCH De*bauch", v. t. & i. [imp. & p. p. Debauched; p. pr. & vb. n. Debauching.] Etym: [F. débaucher, prob. originally, to entice away from the workshop; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + OF. bauche, bauge, hut, cf. F. bauge lair of a wild boar; prob. from G. or Icel., cf. Icel. balkr. See Balk, n.]

Defn: To lead away from purity or excellence; to corrupt in character or principles; to mar; to vitiate; to pollute; to seduce; as, to debauch one's self by intemperance; to debauch a woman; to debauch an army. Learning not debauched by ambition. Burke. A man must have got his conscience thoroughly debauched and hardened before he can arrive to the height of sin. South. Her pride debauched her judgment and her eyes. Cowley.

DEBAUCH De*bauch", n. Etym: [Cf. F. débauche.]

1. Excess in eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; lewdness; debauchery. The first physicians by debauch were made. Dryden.

2. An act or occasion of debauchery. Silenus, from his night's debauch, Fatigued and sick. Cowley.

DEBAUCHED De*bauched", a.

Defn: Dissolute; dissipated. "A coarse and debauched look." Ld. Lytton.

DEBAUCHEDLY De*bauch"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In a profligate manner.

DEBAUCHEDNESS De*bauch"ed*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being debauched; intemperance. Bp. Hall.

DEBAUCHEE Deb`au*chee", n. Etym: [F. dé, n., properly p. p. of débaucher. See Debauch, v. t.]

Defn: One who is given to intemperance or bacchanalian excesses; a man habitually lewd; a libertine.

DEBAUCHER De*bauch"er, n.

Defn: One who debauches or corrupts others; especially, a seducer to lewdness.

DEBAUCHERY De*bauch"er*y, n.; pl. Debaucheries (.

1. Corruption of fidelity; seduction from virtue, duty, or allegiance. The republic of Paris will endeavor to complete the debauchery of the army. Burke.

2. Excessive indulgence of the appetites; especially, excessive indulgence of lust; intemperance; sensuality; habitual lewdness. Oppose . . . debauchery by temperance. Sprat.

DEBAUCHMENT De*bauch"ment, n.

Defn: The act of corrupting; the act of seducing from virtue or duty.

DEBAUCHNESS De*bauch"ness, n.

Defn: Debauchedness. [Obs.]

DEBEIGE De*beige", n. Etym: [F. de of + beige the natural color of wool.]

Defn: A kind of woolen or mixed dress goods. [Written also debage.]

DEBEL De*bel", v. t. Etym: [Cf. F. débeller. See Debellate.]

Defn: To conquer. [Obs.] Milton.

DEBELLATE De*bel"late, v. t. Etym: [L. debellatus, p. p. of debellare to subdue; de- + bellum war.]

Defn: To subdue; to conquer in war. [Obs.] Speed.

DEBELLATION Deb`el*la"tion, n. Etym: [LL. debellatio.]

Defn: The act of conquering or subduing. [Obs.]

DE BENE ESSE De be"ne es"se. Etym: [L.] (Law)

Defn: Of well being; of formal sufficiency for the time; conditionally; provisionally. Abbott.

DEBENTURE De*ben"ture, n. Etym: [L. debentur they are due, fr. debere to owe; cf. F. debentur. So called because these receipts began with the words Debentur mihi.]

1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person; the sum thus due.

2. A customhouse certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a drawback of duties paid on their importation. Burrill.

Note: It is applied in England to deeds of mortgage given by railway companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other bonds and securities for money loaned.

DEBENTURED De*ben"tured, a.

Defn: Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods.

DEBENTURE STOCK Debenture stock. (Finance)

Defn: The debt or series of debts, collectively, represented by a series of debentures; a debt secured by a trust deed of property for the benefit of the holders of shares in the debt or of a series of debentures. By the terms of much debenture stock the holders are not entitled to demand payment until the winding up of the company or default in payment; in the winding up of the company or default in payment; in the case of railway debentures, they cannot demand payment of the principal, and the debtor company cannot redeem the stock, except by authority of an act of Parliament. [Eng.]

DEBILE Deb"ile, a. Etym: [L. debilis: cf. F. débile. See Debility.]

Defn: Weak. [Obs.] Shak.

DEBILITANT De*bil"i*tant, a. Etym: [L. debilitants, p. pr.] (Med.)

Defn: Diminishing the energy of organs; reducing excitement; as, a debilitant drug.

DEBILITATE De*bil"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debilitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debilitating.] Etym: [L. debilitatus, p. p. of debilitare to debilitate, fr. debilis. See Debility.]

Defn: To impair the strength of; to weaken; to enfeeble; as, to debilitate the body by intemperance. Various ails debilitate the mind. Jenyns. The debilitated frame of Mr. Bertram was exhausted by this last effort. Sir W. Scott.

DEBILITATION De*bil`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [L. debilitatio: cf. F. débilitation.]

Defn: The act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who is debilitated; weakness.

DEBILITY De*bil"i*ty, n. Etym: [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de- + habilis able: cf. F. débilité. See Able, a.]

Defn: The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor. The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility, faintness, and sometimes sudden death. Arbuthnot.

Syn. -- Debility, Infirmity, Imbecility. An infirmity belongs, for the most part, to particular members, and is often temporary, as of the eyes, etc. Debility is more general, and while it lasts impairs the ordinary functions of nature. Imbecility attaches to the whole frame, and renders it more or less powerless. Debility may be constitutional or may be the result or superinduced causes; Imbecility is always constitutional; infirmity is accidental, and results from sickness or a decay of the frame. These words, in their figurative uses, have the same distinctions; we speak of infirmity of will, debility of body, and an Imbecility which affects the whole man; but Imbecility is often used with specific reference to feebleness of mind.

DEBIT Deb"it, n. Etym: [L. debitum what is due, debt, from debere to owe: cf. F. débit. See Debt.]

Defn: A debt; an entry on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; -- mostly used adjectively; as, the debit side of an account.

DEBIT Deb"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debited; p. pr. & vb. n. Debiting.]

1. To charge with debt; -- the opposite of, and correlative to, credit; as, to debit a purchaser for the goods sold.

2. (Bookkeeping)

Defn: To enter on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; as, to debit the amount of goods sold.

DEBITOR Deb"it*or, n. Etym: [L. See Debtor.]

Defn: A debtor. [Obs.] Shak.

DEBITUMINIZATION De`bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of depriving of bitumen.

DEBITUMINIZE De`bi*tu"mi*nize, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of bitumen.

DEBLAI Dé`blai", n. Etym: [F.] (Fort.)

Defn: The cavity from which the earth for parapets, etc. (remblai), is taken.

DEBONAIR Deb`o*nair", a. Etym: [OE. debonere, OF. de bon aire, debonaire, of good descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. débonnaire debonair; de of (L. de) + bon good (L. bonus) + aire. See Air, and Bounty, and cf. Bonair.]

Defn: Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; of good appearance and manners; graceful; complaisant. Was never prince so meek and debonair. Spenser.

DEBONAIRITY Deb`o*nair"i*ty, n. Etym: [OF. debonaireté, F. débonnaireté.]

Defn: Debonairness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEBONAIRLY Deb`o*nair"ly, adv.

Defn: Courteously; elegantly.

DEBONAIRNESS Deb`o*nair"ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being debonair; good humor; gentleness; courtesy. Sterne.

DEBOSH De*bosh", v. t. Etym: [Old form of debauch.]

Defn: To debauch. [Obs.] "A deboshed lady." Beau. & Fl.

DEBOSHMENT De*bosh"ment, n.

Defn: Debauchment. [Obs.]

DEBOUCH De*bouch", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Debouched; p. pr. & vb. n. Debouching.] Etym: [F. déboucher; pref. dé- (L. dis- or de) + boucher to stop up, fr. bouche mouth, fr. L. bucca the cheek. Cf. Disembogue.]

Defn: To march out from a wood, defile, or other confined spot, into open ground; to issue. Battalions debouching on the plain. Prescott.

DEBOUCHE Dé`bou`ché", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: A place for exit; an outlet; hence, a market for goods. The débouchés were ordered widened to afford easy egress. The Century.

DEBOUCHURE Dé`bou`chure", n. Etym: [F.]

Defn: The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait.

DEBRIS Dé`bris", n. Etym: [F., fr. pref. dé- (L. dis) + briser to break, shatter; perh. of Celtic origin.]

1. (Geol.)

Defn: Broken and detached fragments, taken collectively; especially, fragments detached from a rock or mountain, and piled up at the base.

2. Rubbish, especially such as results from the destruction of anything; remains; ruins.

DEBRUISED De*bruised", a. Etym: [Cf. OF. debruisier to shatter, break. Cf. Bruise.] (Her.)

Defn: Surmounted by an ordinary; as, a lion is debruised when a bend or other ordinary is placed over it, as in the cut. The lion of England and the lilies of France without the baton sinister, under which, according to the laws of heraldry, they where debruised in token of his illegitimate birth. Macaulay.

DEBT Debt, n. Etym: [OE. dette, F. dette, LL. debita, fr. L. debitus owed, p. p. of debere to owe, prop., to have on loan; de- + habere to have. See Habit, and cf. Debit, Due.]

1. That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another, or to perform for his benefit; thing owed; obligation; liability. Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt. Shak. When you run in debt, you give to another power over your liberty. Franklin.

2. A duty neglected or violated; a fault; a sin; a trespass. "Forgive us our debts." Matt. vi. 12.

3. (Law)

Defn: An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money alleged to be due. Burrill. Bond debt, Book debt, etc. See under Bond, Book, etc. -- Debt of nature, death.

DEBTED Debt"ed, p. a.

Defn: Indebted; obliged to. [R.] I stand debted to this gentleman. Shak.

DEBTEE Debt*ee", n. (Law)

Defn: One to whom a debt is due; creditor; -- correlative to debtor. Blackstone.

DEBTLESS Debt"less, a.

Defn: Free from debt. Chaucer.

DEBTOR Debt"or, n. Etym: [OE. dettur, dettour, OF. detor, detur, detour, F. débiteur, fr. L. debitor, fr. debere to owe. See Debt.]

Defn: One who owes a debt; one who is indebted; -- correlative to creditor. [I 'll] bring your latter hazard back again, And thankfully rest debtor for the first. Shak. In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to his creditor. Mitford. Debtors for our lives to you. Tennyson.

DEBULLIATE De*bul"li*ate, v. i. Etym: [Pref. dé- + L. bullire to boil.]

Defn: To boil over. [Obs.]

DEBULLITION Deb`ul*li"tion, n. Etym: [See Debulliate.]

Defn: A bubbling or boiling over. [Obs.] Bailey.

DEBURSE De*burse", v. t. & i. Etym: [Pref. de + L. bursa purse.]

Defn: To disburse. [Obs.] Ludlow.

DEBUSCOPE De"bu*scope, n. Etym: [From the inventor, Debus, a French optician + -scope.] (Opt.)

Defn: A modification of the kaleidoscope; -- used to reflect images so as to form beautiful designs.

DEBUT Dé`but", n. Etym: [F. début, prop., the first cast or throw at play, fr. but aim, mark. See Butt an end.]

Defn: A beginning or first attempt; hence, a first appearance before the public, as of an actor or public speaker.

DEBUTANT; DEBUTANTE De`bu`tant", n.; fem. De`bu`tante" (. Etym: [F., p. pr. of débuter to have the first throw, to make one's début. See Début.]

Defn: A person who makes his (or her) first appearance before the public.

DECA- Dec"a-. Etym: [Cf. Ten.]

Defn: A prefix, from Gr. de`ka, signifying ten; specifically (Metric System), a prefix signifying the weight or measure that is ten times the principal unit.

DECACERATA De*cac`e*ra"ta, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + ke`ras a horn.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The division of Cephalopoda which includes the squids, cuttlefishes, and others having ten arms or tentacles; -- called also Decapoda. [Written also Decacera.] See Dibranchiata.

DECACHORD; DECACHORDON Dec"a*chord, Dec`a*chor"don, n. Etym: [Gr. deka`chordos tenstringed; de`ka ten + chordj` a string.]

1. An ancient Greek musical instrument of ten strings, resembling the harp.

2. Something consisting of ten parts. W. Watson.

DECACUMINATED Dec`a*cu"mi*na`ted, a. Etym: [L. decacuminare to cut off the top. See Cacuminate.]

Defn: Having the point or top cut off. [Obs.] Bailey.

DECAD Dec"ad, n.

Defn: A decade. Averill was a decad and a half his elder. Tennyson.

DECADAL Dec"a*dal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.

DECADE Dec"ade, n. Etym: [F. décade, L. decas, -adis, fr. Gr. Ten.]

Defn: A group or division of ten; esp., a period of ten years; a decennium; as, a decade of years or days; a decade of soldiers; the second decade of Livy. [Written also decad.] During this notable decade of years. Gladstone.

DECADENCE; DECADENCY De*ca"dence, De*ca"den*cy, n. Etym: [LL. decadentia; L. de- + cadere to fall: cf. F. décadence. See Decay.]

Defn: A falling away; decay; deterioration; declension. "The old castle, where the family lived in their decadence.' Sir W. Scott.

DECADENT De*ca"dent, a.

Defn: Decaying; deteriorating.

DECADIST Dec"a*dist, n.

Defn: A writer of a book divided into decades; as, Livy was a decadist. [R.]

DECAGON Dec"a*gon, n. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr. décagone.] (Geom.)

Defn: A plane figure having ten sides and ten angles; any figure having ten angles. A regular decagon is one that has all its sides and angles equal.

DECAGONAL De*cag"o*nal, a.

Defn: Pertaining to a decagon; having ten sides.

DECAGRAM; DECAGRAMME Dec"a*gram, Dec"a*gramme, n. Etym: [F. décagramme; Gr. gramme. See Gram.]

Defn: A weight of the metric system; ten grams, equal to about 154.32 grains avoirdupois.

DECAGYNIA Dec`a*gyn"i*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan order of plants characterized by having ten styles.

DECAGYNIAN; DECCAGYNOUS Dec`a*gyn"i*an, Dec*cag"y*nous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décagyne.] (Bot.)

Defn: Belonging to the Decagynia; having ten styles.

DECAHEDRAL Dec`a*he"dral, a.

Defn: Having ten sides.

DECAHEDRON Dec`a*he"dron, n.; pl. E. Decahedrons, L. Decahedra. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr. 'e`dra a seat, a base, fr. 'e`zesthai to sit: cf. F. décaèdre.] (Geom.)

Defn: A solid figure or body inclosed by ten plane surfaces. [Written also, less correctly, decaedron.]

DECALCIFICATION De*cal`ci*fi*ca"tion, n.

Defn: The removal of calcareous matter.

DECALCIFY De*cal"ci*fy, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decalcified; p. pr. & vb. n. Decalcifying.]

Defn: To deprive of calcareous matter; thus, to decalcify bones is to remove the stony part, and leave only the gelatin.

DECALCOMANIA; DECALCOMANIE De*cal`co*ma"ni*a, De*cal`co*ma"nie, n. Etym: [F. décalcomanie.]

Defn: The art or process of transferring pictures and designs to china, glass, marble, etc., and permanently fixing them thereto.

DECALITER; DECALITRE Dec"a*li`ter, Dec"a*li`tre, n. Etym: [F. décalitre; Gr. litre. See Liter.]

Defn: A measure of capacity in the metric system; a cubic volume of ten liters, equal to about 610.24 cubic inches, that is, 2.642 wine gallons.

DECALOG Dec"a*log, n.

Defn: Decalogue.

DECALOGIST De*cal"o*gist, n.

Defn: One who explains the decalogue. J. Gregory.

DECALOGUE Dec"a*logue, n. Etym: [F. décalogue, L. decalogus, fr. Gr. Ten.]

Defn: The Ten Commandments or precepts given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, and originally written on two tables of stone.

DECAMERON De*cam"e*ron, n. Etym: [It. decamerone, fr. Gr. décaméron.]

Defn: A celebrated collection of tales, supposed to be related in ten days; -- written in the 14th century, by Boccaccio, an Italian.

DECAMETER; DECAMETRE Dec"a*me`ter, Dec"a*me`tre, n. Etym: [F. décamètre; Gr. mètre. See Meter.]

Defn: A measure of length in the metric system; ten meters, equal to about 393.7 inches.

DECAMP De*camp", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decamped; p. pr. & vb. n. Decamping.] Etym: [F. décamper; pref. dé- (L. dis) + camp camp. See Camp.]

1. To break up a camp; to move away from a camping ground, usually by night or secretly. Macaulay.

2. Hence, to depart suddenly; to run away; -- generally used disparagingly. The fathers were ordered to decamp, and the house was once again converted into a tavern. Goldsmith.

DECAMPMENT De*camp"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décampement.]

Defn: Departure from a camp; a marching off.

DECANAL Dec"a*nal, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décanal. See Dean.]

Defn: Pertaining to a dean or deanery. His rectorial as well as decanal residence. Churton. Decanal side, the side of the choir on which the dean's tall is placed. -- Decanal stall, the stall allotted to the dean in the choir, on the right or south side of the chancel. Shipley.

DECANDRIA De*can"dri*a, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Bot.)

Defn: A Linnæan class of plants characterized by having ten stamens.

DECANDRIAN; DECANDROUS De*can"dri*an, De*can"drous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. décandre.] (Bot.)

Defn: Belonging to the Decandria; having ten stamens.

DECANE Dec"ane, n. Etym: [See Deca-.] (Chem.)

Defn: A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H22, of the paraffin series, including several isomeric modifications.

DECANGULAR Dec*an"gu*lar, a. Etym: [Pref. deca- + angular.]

Defn: Having ten angles.

DECANI De*ca"ni, a. Etym: [L., lit., of the dean.]

Defn: Used of the side of the choir on which the dean's stall is placed; decanal; -- correlative to cantoris; as, the decanal, or decani, side.

DECANT De*cant", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decanted; p. pr. & vb. n. Decanting.] Etym: [F. décanter (cf. It. decantare), prop., to pour off from the edge of a vessel; pref. dé- (L. de) + OF. cant (It. canto) edge, border, end. See Cant an edge.]

Defn: To pour off gently, as liquor, so as not to disturb the sediment; or to pour from one vessel into another; as, to decant wine.

DECANTATE De*can"tate, v. t.

Defn: To decant. [Obs.]

DECANTATION De`can*ta"tion, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décantation.]

Defn: The act of pouring off a clear liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or from one vessel into another.

DECANTER De*cant"er, n.

1. A vessel used to decant liquors, or for receiving decanted liquors; a kind of glass bottle used for holding wine or other liquors, from which drinking glasses are filled.

2. One who decants liquors.

DECAPHYLLOUS De*caph"yl*lous, a. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr. décaphylle.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having ten leaves.

DECAPITATE De*cap"i*tate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decapitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decapitating.] Etym: [LL. decapitatus, p. p. of decapitare; L. de- + caput head. See Chief.]

1. To cut off the head of; to behead.

2. To remove summarily from office. [Colloq. U. S.]

DECAPITATION De*cap`i*ta"tion, n. Etym: [LL. decapitatio: cf. F. décapitation.]

Defn: The act of beheading; beheading.

DECAPOD Dec"a*pod, n. Etym: [Cf. F. décapode.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A crustacean with ten feet or legs, as a crab; one of the Decapoda. Also used adjectively.

DECAPODA De*cap"o*da, n. pl. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr.

1. (Zoöl.)

Defn: The order of Crustacea which includes the shrimps, lobsters, crabs, etc.

Note: They have a carapace, covering and uniting the somites of the head and thorax and inclosing a gill chamber on each side, and usually have five (rarely six) pairs of legs. They are divided into two principal groups: Brachyura and Macrura. Some writers recognize a third (Anomura) intermediate between the others.

2. (Zoöl.)

Defn: A division of the dibranchiate cephalopods including the cuttlefishes and squids. See Decacera.

DECAPODAL; DECAPODOUS Dec*ap"o*dal, Dec*ap"o*dous, a. (Zoöl.)

Defn: Belonging to the decapods; having ten feet; ten-footed.

DECARBONATE De*car"bon*ate, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of carbonic acid.

DECARBONIZATION De*car`bon*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The action or process of depriving a substance of carbon.

DECARBONIZE De*car"bon*ize, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decarbonized; p. pr. & vb. n. Decarbonizing.]

Defn: To deprive of carbon; as, to decarbonize steel; to decarbonize the blood. Decarbonized iron. See Malleable iron. -- Decarbonized steel, homogenous wrought iron made by a steel process, as that of Bessemer; ingot iron.

DECARBONIZER De*car"bon*i`zer, n.

Defn: He who, or that which, decarbonizes a substance.

DECARBURIZATION De*car`bu*ri*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act, process, or result of decarburizing.

DECARBURIZE De*car"bu*rize, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of carbon; to remove the carbon from.

DECARD De*card", v. t.

Defn: To discard. [Obs.] You have cast those by, decarded them. J. Fletcher.

DECARDINALIZE De*car"di*nal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To depose from the rank of cardinal.

DECASTERE Dec"a*stere, n. Etym: [L. décastère; Gr. stère a stere.] (Metric System)

Defn: A measure of capacity, equal to ten steres, or ten cubic meters.

DECASTICH Dec"a*stich, n. Etym: [Pref. deca- + Gr.

Defn: A poem consisting of ten lines.

DECASTYLE Dec"a*style, a. Etym: [Gr. (Arch.)

Defn: Having ten columns in front; -- said of a portico, temple, etc. -- n.

Defn: A portico having ten pillars or columns in front.

DECASYLLABIC Dec`a*syl*lab"ic, a. Etym: [Pref. deca- + syllabic: cf. F. décasyllabique, décasyllable.]

Defn: Having, or consisting of, ten syllables.

DECATHLON De*cath"lon, n. [See Deca-; Pentathlon.]

Defn: In the modern Olympic Games, a composite contest consisting of a 100-meter run, a broad jump, putting the shot, a running high-jump, a 400-meter run, throwing the discus, a 100-meter hurdle race, pole vaulting, throwing the javelin, and a 1500-meter run.

DECATOIC Dec`a*to"ic, a. (Chem.)

Defn: Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.

DECAY De*cay", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed; p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying.] Etym: [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. déchoir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.]

Defn: To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay. Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay. Goldsmith.

DECAY De*cay", v. t.

1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.] Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak.

2. To destroy. [Obs.] Shak.

DECAY De*cay", n.

1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay. Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more -May strengthen my decays. Herbert. His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay. Macaulay. Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. James Byrne.

2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. Cause of decay. [R.] He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. Bacon.

Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline.

DECAYED De*cayed", a.

Defn: Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman. -- De*cay"ed*ness, n.

DECAYER De*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 mourning plaints your plaint increase. Spenser.

Syn. -- Death; departure; dissolution; demise; release. See Death.

DECEASE De*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 far deceases from nature. Emerson.

DECEASED De*ceased", a.

Defn: Passed away; dead; gone. The deceased, the dead person.

DECEDE De*cede", v. i. Etym: [L. decedere. See Decease, n.]

Defn: To withdraw. [Obs.] Fuller.

DECEDENT De*ce"dent, a. Etym: [L. decedens, p. pr. of decedere.]

Defn: Removing; departing. Ash.

DECEDENT De*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.

DECEITFUL De*ceit"ful, a.

Defn: Full of, or characterized by, deceit; serving to mislead or insnare; trickish; fraudulent; cheating; insincere. Harboring foul deceitful thoughts. Shak.

DECEITFULLY De*ceit"ful*ly, adv.

Defn: With intent to deceive.

DECEITFULNESS De*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.

DECEITLESS De*ceit"less, a.

Defn: Free from deceit. Bp. Hall.

DECEIVABLE De*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.

DECEIVABLENESS De*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.

DECEIVABLY De*ceiv"a*bly, adv.

Defn: In a deceivable manner.

DECEIVE De*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.

DECEIVER De*ceiv"er, n.

Defn: One who deceives; one who leads into error; a cheat; an impostor. 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.

DECEMBRIST De*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 of revolutionists. G. Kennan.

DECEMDENTATE De`cem*den"tate, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. dentate.]

Defn: Having ten points or teeth.

DECEMFID De*cem"fid, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + root of findere to cleave.] (Bot.)

Defn: Cleft into ten parts.

DECEMLOCULAR De`cem*loc"u*lar, a. Etym: [L. decem ten + E. locular.] (Bot.)

Defn: Having ten cells for seeds.

DECEMPEDAL De*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.

DECEMVIRAL De*cem"vi*ral, a. Etym: [L. decemviralis.]

Defn: Pertaining to the decemvirs in Rome.

DECEMVIRATE De*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.

DECEMVIRSHIP De*cem"vir*ship, n.

Defn: The office of a decemvir. Holland.

DECENCE De"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.

DECENE De"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.

DECENNIAL De*cen"ni*al, a. Etym: [See Decennary.]

Defn: Consisting of ten years; happening every ten years; as, a decennial period; decennial games. Hallam.

DECENNIAL De*cen"ni*al, n.

Defn: A tenth year or tenth anniversary.

DECENNIUM De*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; DECENNOVARY De*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.

DECENTRALIZATION De*cen`tral*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The action of decentralizing, or the state of being decentralized. "The decentralization of France." J. P. Peters.

DECENTRALIZE De*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.

DECEPTIBLE De*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.

DECEPTIOUS De*cep"tious, a. Etym: [LL. deceptiosus.]

Defn: Tending deceive; delusive. [R.] As if those organs had deceptious functions. Shak.

DECEPTIVE De*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.

DECEPTIVELY De*cep"tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a manner to deceive.

DECEPTIVENESS De*cep"tive*ness, n.

Defn: The power or habit of deceiving; tendency or aptness to deceive.

DECEPTIVITY De`cep*tiv"i*ty, n.

Defn: Deceptiveness; a deception; a sham. [R.] Carlyle.

DECEPTORY De*cep"to*ry, a. Etym: [L. deceptorius, from decipere.]

Defn: Deceptive. [R.]

DECERN De*cern", v. t. Etym: [L. decernere. See Decree.]

1. To perceive, discern, or decide. [Obs.] Granmer.

2. (Scots Law)

Defn: To decree; to adjudge.

DECERNITURE De*cern"i*ture, n. (Scots Law)

Defn: A decree or sentence of a court. Stormonth.

DECERP De*cerp", v. t. Etym: [L. decerpere; de- + carpere to pluck.]

Defn: To pluck off; to crop; to gather. [Obs.]

DECERPT De*cerpt", a. Etym: [L. decerptus, p. p. of decerpere.]

Defn: Plucked off or away. [Obs.]

DECERPTIBLE De*cerp"ti*ble, a.

Defn: That may be plucked off, cropped, or torn away. [Obs.] Bailey.

DECERPTION De*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.

DECESSION De*ces"sion, n. Etym: [L. decessio, fr. decedere to depart. See Decease, n.]

Defn: Departure; decrease; -- opposed to accesion. [Obs.] Jer. Taylor.

DECHARM De*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.

DECIARE Dec"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.

DECIDABLE De*cid"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being decided; determinable.

DECIDE De*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.

DECIDE De*cide", v. i.

Defn: To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the defendant. Who shall decide, when doctors disagree Pope.

DECIDED De*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.

DECIDEDLY De*cid"ed*ly, adv.

Defn: In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly; thoroughly.

DECIDEMENT De*cide"ment, n.

Defn: Means of forming a decision. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

DECIDENCE Dec"i*dence, n. Etym: [L. decidens falling off.]

Defn: A falling off. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

DECIDER De*cid"er, n.

Defn: One who decides.

DECIDUA De*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.

DECIDUATA De*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.

DECIDUATE De*cid"u*ate, a. (Anat.)

Defn: Possessed of, or characterized by, a decidua.

DECIDUITY Dec`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.

DECIDUOUSNESS De*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; DECILE Dec"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; DECILITRE Dec"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.

DECILLION De*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.]

DECILLIONTH De*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.

DECIMAL Dec"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.

DECIMALISM Dec"i*mal*ism, n.

Defn: The system of a decimal currency, decimal weights, measures, etc.

DECIMALIZE Dec"i*mal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To reduce to a decimal system; as, to decimalize the currency. -- Dec`i*mal*i*za"tion, n.

DECIMALLY Dec"i*mal*ly, adv.

Defn: By tens; by means of decimals.

DECIMATE Dec"i*mate, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decimated; p. pr. & vb. n. Decimating.] Etym: [L. decimatus, p. p. of decimare to decimate (in senses 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.

DECIMATION Dec`i*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. decimatio: cf. F. décimation.]

1. A tithing. [Obs.] State Trials (1630).