Chapter CXVII: Conclusion: Con*clu"sion, n. Etym: F., fr. L. conclusio. See Conclude (26)

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.

DEDUCTIBLE De*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 Capable of being deducted, taken away, or withdrawn.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.

DEDUCTION De*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.

DEDUCTIVE De*duct"ive, a. Etym: [Cf. L. deductivus derivative.]

Defn: Of or pertaining to deduction; capable of being deduced from premises; deducible. All knowledge of causes is deductive. Glanvill. Notions and ideas . . . used in a deductive process. Whewell.

DEDUCTIVELY De*duct"ive*ly, adv.

Defn: By deduction; by way of inference; by consequence. Sir T. Browne.

DEDUCTOR De*duc"tor, n. Etym: [L., a guide. See Deduce.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: The pilot whale or blackfish.

DEDUIT De*duit", n. Etym: [F. déduit. Cf. Deduct.]

Defn: Delight; pleasure. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEDUPLICATION De*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.

DEED Deed, 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.

DEED Deed, v. t.

Defn: To convey or transfer by deed; as, he deeded all his estate to his eldest son. [Colloq. U. S.]

DEEDFUL Deed"ful, a.

Defn: Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [R.] "A deedful life." Tennyson.

DEEDLESS Deed"less, a.

Defn: Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive. Deedless in his tongue. Shak.

DEED POLL Deed" 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.

DEEDY Deed"y, a.

Defn: Industrious; active. [R.] Cowper.

DEEM Deem, 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.

DEEM Deem, 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.

DEEM Deem, n.

Defn: Opinion; judgment. [Obs.] Shak.

DEEMSTER Deem"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.

DEEP Deep, 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."

DEEP Deep, n.

1. That which is deep, especially deep water, as the sea or ocean; an abyss; 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.

DEEPEN Deep"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.

DEEPEN Deep"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-FET Deep"-fet`, a.

Defn: Deeply fetched or drawn. [Obs.] "Deep-fet groans." Shak.

DEEP-LAID Deep"-laid`, a.

Defn: Laid deeply; formed with cunning and sagacity; as, deep-laid plans.

DEEPLY Deep"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-MOUTHED Deep"-mouthed`, a.

Defn: Having a loud and sonorous voice. "Deep-mouthed dogs." Dryden.

DEEPNESS Deep"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-READ Deep"-read`, a.

Defn: Profoundly book-learned. "Great writers and deep-read men." L'Estrange.

DEEP-SEA Deep"-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-WAISTED Deep"-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 stag or red deer; the fallow deer is C. dama; the common American deer is C. Virginianus; the blacktailed deer of Western North America is C. Columbianus; and the mule deer of the same region is C. macrotis. See Axis, 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.

DEERBERRY Deer"ber`ry, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A shrub of the blueberry group (Vaccinium stamineum); also, its bitter, greenish white berry; -- called also squaw huckleberry.

DEERGRASS Deer"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.

DEERHOUND Deer"hound`, n. (Zoöl.)

Defn: One of a large and fleet breed of hounds used in hunting deer; a staghound.

DEERLET Deer"let, n. Etym: [Deer + -let.] (Zoöl.)

Defn: A chevrotain. See Kanchil, and Napu.

DEER-NECK Deer"-neck`, n.

Defn: A deerlike, or thin, ill-formed neck, as of a horse.

DEERSKIN Deer"skin`, n.

Defn: The skin of a deer, or the leather which is made from it. Hakluyt. Longfellow.

DEERSTALKER Deer"stalk`er, n.

Defn: One who practices deerstalking.

DEERSTALKING Deer"stalk`ing, n.

Defn: The hunting of deer on foot, by stealing upon them unawares.

DEER'S-TONGUE Deer's"-tongue`, n. (Bot.)

Defn: A plant (Liatris odoratissima) whose fleshy leaves give out a fragrance compared to vanilla. Wood.

DEES Dees, n. pl.

Defn: Dice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEES Dees, n.

Defn: A dais. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEESIS De*e"sis, n. Etym: [NL., fr. Gr. (Rhet.)

Defn: An invocation of, or address to, the Supreme Being.

DEESS De"ess, n. Etym: [F. déesse, fem. of dieu god.]

Defn: A goddess. [Obs.] Croft.

DEEV Deev, n. (Hind. & Pers. Myth.)

Defn: See Dev.

DEFACE De*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.

DEFACEMENT De*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.

DEFACER De*fa"cer, n.

Defn: One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.

DE FACTO De` 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.]

DEFAILANCE De*fail"ance, n. Etym: [F. défaillance.]

Defn: Failure; miscarriage. [Obs.] Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance. Comber.

DEFAILURE De*fail"ure, n.

Defn: Failure. [Obs.] Barrow.

DEFALCATE De*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. See Falchion.]

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.

DEFALCATE De*fal"cate, v. i.

Defn: To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. "Some partner defalcating, or the like." Carlyle.

DEFALCATION De`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

DEFALCATOR Def"al*ca`tor, n.

Defn: A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]

DEFALK De*falk", v. t. Etym: [F. défalquer. See Defalcate.]

Defn: To lop off; to bate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

DEFAMATION Def`a*ma"tion, n. Etym: [OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. See Defame.]

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.

DEFAMATORY De*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.

DEFAME De*fame", n.

Defn: Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

DEFAMER De*fam"er, n.

Defn: One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.

DEFAMINGLY De*fam"ing*ly, adv.

Defn: In a defamatory manner.

DEFAMOUS Def"a*mous, a.

Defn: Defamatory. [Obs.]

DEFATIGABLE De*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.

DEFATIGATION De*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.

DEFAULT De*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.

DEFAULT De*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.

DEFAULTER De*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.

DEFEASANCED De*fea"sanced, a. (Law)

Defn: Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.

DEFEASIBLE De*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.

DEFEAT De*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.

DEFEAT De*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.

DEFEATURED De*fea"tured, p. p.

Defn: Changed in features; deformed. [R.] Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described. De Quincey.

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.

DEFECATE Def"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.

DEFECATE Def"e*cate, v. i.

1. To become clear, pure, or free. Goldsmith.

2. To void excrement.

DEFECATION Def`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.

DEFECATOR Def"e*ca`tor, n.

Defn: That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.

DEFECT De*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.

DEFECT De*fect", v. i.

Defn: To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.

DEFECT De*fect", v. t.

Defn: To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).

DEFECTIBILITY De*fect`i*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.

DEFECTIBLE De*fect"i*ble, a.

Defn: Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding." Jer. Taylor.

DEFECTION De*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.

DEFECTIONIST De*fec"tion*ist, n.

Defn: One who advocates or encourages defection.

DEFECTIOUS De*fec"tious, a.

Defn: Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece." Sir P. Sidney.

DEFECTIVE De*fect"ive, a. Etym: [L. defectivus: cf. F. défectif. See Defect.]

1. Wanting in something; incomplete; lacking a part; deficient; imperfect; faulty; -- applied either to natural or moral qualities; as, a defective limb; defective timber; a defective copy or account; a defective character; defective rules.

2. (Gram.)

Defn: Lacking some of the usual forms of declension or conjugation; as, a defective noun or verb. -- De*fect"ive*ly, adv. -- De*fect"ive*ness, n.

DEFECTUOSITY De*fec`tu*os"i*ty, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défectuosité.]

Defn: Great imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

DEFECTUOUS De*fec"tu*ous, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défectueux.]

Defn: Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.

DEFEDATION Def`e*da"tion, n. Etym: [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- + foedare to foul, foedus foul.]

Defn: The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]

DEFENCE De*fence", n. & v. t.

Defn: See Defense.

DEFEND De*fend", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] Etym: [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. dint. Cf. Dint, Defense, Fend.]

1. To ward or fend off; to drive back or away; to repel. [A Latinism & Obs.] Th' other strove for to defend The force of Vulcan with his might and main. Spenser.

2. To prohibit; to forbid. [Obs.] Chaucer. Which God defend that I should wring from him. Shak.

3. To repel danger or harm from; to protect; to secure against; attack; to maintain against force or argument; to uphold; to guard; as, to defend a town; to defend a cause; to defend character; to defend the absent; -- sometimes followed by from or against; as, to defend one's self from, or against, one's enemies. The lord mayor craves aid . . . to defend the city. Shak. God defend the right! Shak. A village near it was defended by the river. Clarendon.

4. (Law.)

Defn: To deny the right of the plaintiff in regard to (the suit, or the wrong charged); to oppose or resist, as a claim at law; to contest, as a suit. Burrill.

Syn. -- To Defend, Protect. To defend is literally to ward off; to protect is to cover so as to secure against approaching danger. We defend those who are attacked; we protect those who are liable to injury or invasion. A fortress is defended by its guns, and protected by its wall. As birds flying, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem; defending also he will deliver it. Is. xxxi. 5. Leave not the faithful side That gave thee being, still shades thee and protects. Milton.

DEFENDABLE De*fend"a*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défendable.]

Defn: Capable of being defended; defensible. [R.]

DEFENDANT De*fend"ant, a. Etym: [F. défendant, p. pr. of défendre. See Defend.]

1. Serving, or suitable, for defense; defensive. [Obs.] With men of courage and with means defendant. Shak.

2. Making defense.

DEFENDANT De*fend"ant, n.

1. One who defends; a defender. The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up. Spotswood.

2. (Law)

Defn: A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.

Note: The term is applied to any party of whom a demand is made in court, whether the party denies and defends the claim, or admits it, and suffers a default; also to a party charged with a criminal offense.

DEFENDEE De`fen*dee", n.

Defn: One who is defended. [R. & Ludicrous]

DEFENDER De*fend"er, n. Etym: [Cf. Fender.]

Defn: One who defends; one who maintains, supports, protects, or vindicates; a champion; an advocate; a vindicator. Provinces . . . left without their ancient and puissant defenders. Motley.

DEFENDRESS De*fend"ress, n.

Defn: A female defender. [R.] Defendress of the faith. Stow.

DEFENSATIVE De*fen"sa*tive, n. Etym: [L. defensare, defensatum, to defend diligently, intens. of defendere. See Defend.]

Defn: That which serves to protect or defend.

DEFENSE; DEFENCE De*fense", De*fence", n. Etym: [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. Fence.]

1. The act of defending, or the state of being defended; protection, as from violence or danger. In cases of defense 't is best to weigh The enemy more mighty than he seems. Shak.

2. That which defends or protects; anything employed to oppose attack, ward off violence or danger, or maintain security; a guard; a protection. War would arise in defense of the right. Tennyson. God, the widow's champion and defense. Shak.

3. Protecting plea; vindication; justification. Men, brethren, and fathers, hear ye my defense. Acts xxii. 1.

4. (Law)

Defn: The defendant's answer or plea; an opposing or denial of the truth or validity of the plaintiff's or prosecutor's case; the method of proceeding adopted by the defendant to protect himself against the plaintiff's action.

5. Act or skill in making defense; defensive plan or policy; practice in self defense, as in fencing, boxing, etc. A man of great defense. Spenser. By how much defense is better than no skill. Shak.

6. Prohibition; a prohibitory ordinance. [Obs.] Severe defenses . . . against wearing any linen under a certain breadth. Sir W. Temple.

DEFENSE De*fense", v. t.

Defn: To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.] Better manned and more strongly defensed. Hales.

DEFENSELESS De*fense"less, a.

Defn: Destitute of defense; unprepared to resist attack; unable to oppose; unprotected. -- De*fense"less*ly, adv. -- De*fense"less*ness, n.

DEFENSER De*fens"er, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.]

Defn: Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.

DEFENSIBILITY De*fen`si*bil"i*ty, n.

Defn: Capability of being defended.

DEFENSIBLE De*fen"si*ble, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défensable, LL. defensabilis, defensibilis. See Defense, and cf. Defendable.]

1. Capable of being defended; as, a defensible city, or a defensible cause.

2. Capable of offering defense. [Obs.] Shak.

DEFENSIBLENESS De*fen"si*ble*ness, n.

Defn: Capability of being defended; defensibility. Priestley.

DEFENSIVE De*fen"sive, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défensif.]

1. Serving to defend or protect; proper for defense; opposed to offensive; as, defensive armor. A moat defensive to a house. Shak.

2. Carried on by resisting attack or aggression; -- opposed to offensive; as, defensive war.

3. In a state or posture of defense. Milton.

DEFENSIVE De*fen"sive, n.

Defn: That which defends; a safeguard. Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensive. Bacon. To be on the defensive, To stand on the defensive, to be or stand in a state or posture of defense or resistance, in opposition to aggression or attack.

DEFENSIVELY De*fen"sive*ly, adv.

Defn: On the defensive.

DEFENSOR De*fen"sor, n. Etym: [L. See Defenser.]

1. A defender. Fabyan.

2. (Law)

Defn: A defender or an advocate in court; a guardian or protector.

3. (Eccl.)

Defn: The patron of a church; an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church.

DEFENSORY De*fen"so*ry, a. Etym: [L. defensorius.]

Defn: Tending to defend; defensive; as, defensory preparations.

DEFER De*fer", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deferred; p. pr. & vb. n. Deferring.] Etym: [OE. differren, F. différer, fr. L. differre to delay, bear different ways; dis- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Differ, Defer to offer.]

Defn: To put off; to postpone to a future time; to delay the execution of; to delay; to withhold. Defer the spoil of the city until night. Shak. God . . . will not long defer To vindicate the glory of his name. Milton.

DEFER De*fer", v. i.

Defn: To put off; to delay to act; to wait. Pius was able to defer and temporize at leisure. J. A. Symonds.

DEFER De*fer", v. t. Etym: [F. déférer to pay deference, to yield, to bring before a judge, fr. L. deferre to bring down; de- + ferre to bear. See Bear to support, and cf. Defer to delay, Delate.]

1. To render or offer. [Obs.] Worship deferred to the Virgin. Brevint.

2. To lay before; to submit in a respectful manner; to refer; -- with to. Hereupon the commissioners . . . deferred the matter to the Earl of Northumberland. Bacon.

DEFER De*fer", v. i.

Defn: To yield deference to the wishes of another; to submit to the opinion of another, or to authority; -- with to. The house, deferring to legal right, acquiesced. Bancroft.

DEFERENCE Def"er*ence, n. Etym: [F. déférence. See 3d Defer.]

Defn: A yielding of judgment or preference from respect to the wishes or opinion of another; submission in opinion; regard; respect; complaisance. Deference to the authority of thoughtful and sagacious men. Whewell. Deference is the most complicate, the most indirect, and the most elegant of all compliments. Shenstone.

Syn. -- Deference, Reverence, Respect. Deference marks an inclination to yield one's opinion, and to acquiesce in the sentiments of another in preference to one's own. Respect marks the estimation that we have for another, which makes us look to him as worthy of high confidence for the qualities of his mind and heart. Reverence denotes a mingling of fear with a high degree of respect and esteem. Age, rank, dignity, and personal merit call for deference; respect should be paid to the wise and good; reverence is due to God, to the authors of our being, and to the sanctity of the laws.

DEFERENT Def"er*ent, a. Etym: [L. deferens, p. pr. of deferre. See 3d Defer.]

Defn: Serving to carry; bearing. [R.] "Bodies deferent." Bacon.

DEFERENT Def"er*ent, n.

1. That which carries or conveys. Though air be the most favorable deferent of sounds. Bacon.

2. (Ptolemaic Astron.)

Defn: An imaginary circle surrounding the earth, in whose periphery either the heavenly body or the center of the heavenly body's epicycle was supposed to be carried round.

DEFERENTIAL Def`er*en"tial, a. Etym: [See Deference.]

Defn: Expressing deference; accustomed to defer.

DEFERENTIALLY Def`er*en"tial*ly, adv.

Defn: With deference.

DEFERMENT De*fer"ment, n. Etym: [See 1st Defer.]

Defn: The act of delaying; postponement. [R.] My grief, joined with the instant business, Begs a deferment. Suckling.

DEFERRER De*fer"rer, n.

Defn: One who defers or puts off.

DEFERVESCENCE; DEFERVESCENCY De`fer*ves"cence, De`fer*ves"cency, n. Etym: [L. defervescere to grow cool.]

1. A subsiding from a state of ebullition; loss of heat; lukewarmness. A defervescency in holy actions. Jer. Taylor.

2. (Med.)

Defn: The subsidence of a febrile process; as, the stage of defervescence in pneumonia.

DEFEUDALIZE De*feu"dal*ize, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of the feudal character or form.

DEFIANCE De*fi"ance, n. Etym: [OF. defiance, desfiance, challenge, fr. desfier to challenge, F. défier. See Defy.]

1. The act of defying, putting in opposition, or provoking to combat; a challenge; a provocation; a summons to combat. A war without a just defiance made. Dryden. Stood for her cause, and flung defiance down. Tennyson.

2. A state of opposition; willingness to flight; disposition to resist; contempt of opposition. He breathed defiance to my ears. Shak.

3. A casting aside; renunciation; rejection. [Obs.] "Defiance to thy kindness." Ford. To bid defiance, To set at defiance, to defy; to disregard recklessly or contemptuously. Locke.

DEFIANT De*fi"ant, a. Etym: [Cf. F. défiant, p. pr. of défier. See Defy.]

Defn: Full of defiance; bold; insolent; as, a defiant spirit or act. In attitude stern and defiant. Longfellow. -- De*fi"ant*ly, adv. -- De*fi"ant*ness, n.

DEFIATORY De*fi"a*to*ry, a. Etym: [See Defy.]

Defn: Bidding or manifesting defiance. [Obs.] Shelford.

DEFIBRINATE De*fi"bri*nate, v. t.

Defn: To deprive of fibrin, as fresh blood or lymph by stirring with twigs.

DEFIBRINATION De*fi`bri*na"tion, n.

Defn: The act or process of depriving of fibrin.

DEFIBRINIZE De*fi"bri*nize, v. t.

Defn: To defibrinate.

DEFICIENCE De*fi"cience, n.

Defn: Same as Deficiency. Thou in thyself art perfect, and in thee Is no deficience found. Milton.

DEFICIENCY De*fi"cien*cy, n.; pl. Deficiencies. Etym: [See Deficient.]

Defn: The state of being deficient; inadequacy; want; failure; imperfection; shortcoming; defect. "A deficiencyof blood." Arbuthnot. [Marlborough] was so miserably ignorant, that his deficiencies made him the ridicule of his contemporaries. Buckle. Deficiency of a curve (Geom.), the amount by which the number of double points on a curve is short of the maximum for curves of the same degree.

DEFICIENT De*fi"cient, a. Etym: [L. deficiens, -entis, p. pr. of deficere to be wanting. See Defect.]

Defn: Wanting, to make up completeness; wanting, as regards a requirement; not sufficient; inadequate; defective; imperfect; incomplete; lacking; as, deficient parts; deficient estate; deficient strength; deficient in judgment. The style was indeed deficient in ease and variety. Macaulay. Deficient number. (Arith.) See under Abundant. -- De*fi"cient-ly, adv.

DEFICIT Def"i*cit, n. Etym: [Lit., it is wanting, 3d person pres. indic. of L. deficere, cf. F. déficit. See Defect.]

Defn: Deficiency in amount or quality; a falling short; lack; as, a deficit in taxes, revenue, etc. Addison.

DEFIER De*fi"er, n. Etym: [See Defy.]

Defn: One who dares and defies; a contemner; as, a defier of the laws.

DEFIGURATION De*fig`u*ra"tion, n.

Defn: Disfiguration; mutilation. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

DEFIGURE De*fig"ure, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- (intens.) + figure.]

Defn: To delineate. [Obs.] These two stones as they are here defigured. Weever.

DEFILADE De`fi*lade", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defiladed; p. pr. & vb. n. Defilading.] Etym: [Cf. F. défiler to defile, and défilade act of defiling. See 1st Defile.] (Mil.)

Defn: To raise, as a rampart, so as to shelter interior works commanded from some higher point.

DEFILADING De`fi*lad"ing, n. (Mil.)

Defn: The art or act of determining the directions and heights of the lines of rampart with reference to the protection of the interior from exposure to an enemy's fire from any point within range, or from any works which may be erected. Farrow.

DEFILE De*file", v. i. [imp. & p. p. Defiled; p. pr. & vb. n. Defiling.] Etym: [F. défiler; pref. dé-, for des- (L. dis-) + file a row or line. See File a row.]

Defn: To march off in a line, file by file; to file off.

DEFILE De*file", v. t. (Mil.)

Defn: Same as Defilade.

DEFILE De*file", n. Etym: [Cf. F. défilé, fr. défiler to defile.]

1. Any narrow passage or gorge in which troops can march only in a file, or with a narrow front; a long, narrow pass between hills, rocks, etc.

2. (Mil.)

Defn: The act of defilading a fortress, or of raising the exterior works in order to protect the interior. See Defilade.

DEFILE De*file", v. t. Etym: [OE. defoulen, -foilen, to tread down, OF. defouler; de- + fouler to trample (see Full, v. t.), and OE. defoulen to foul (influenced in form by the older verb defoilen). See File to defile, Foul, Defoul.]

1. To make foul or impure; to make filthy; to dirty; to befoul; to pollute. They that touch pitch will be defiled. Shak.

2. To soil or sully; to tarnish, as reputation; to taint. He is . . . among the greatest prelates of this age, however his character may be defiled by . . . dirty hands. Swift.

3. To injure in purity of character; to corrupt. Defile not yourselves with the idols of Egypt. Ezek. xx. 7.

4. To corrupt the chastity of; to debauch; to violate. The husband murder'd and the wife defiled. Prior.

5. To make ceremonially unclean; to pollute. That which dieth of itself, or is torn with beasts, he shall not eat to defile therewith. Lev. xxii. 8.

DEFILEMENT De*file"ment, n. Etym: [Cf. F. défilement. See Defile] (Mil.)

Defn: The protection of the interior walls of a fortification from an enfilading fire, as by covering them, or by a high parapet on the exposed side.

DEFILEMENT De*file"ment, n. Etym: [From 3d Defile.]

Defn: The act of defiling, or state of being defiled, whether physically or morally; pollution; foulness; dirtiness; uncleanness. Defilements of the flesh. Hopkins. The chaste can not rake into such filth without danger of defilement. Addison.

DEFILER De*fil"er, n.

Defn: One who defiles; one who corrupts or violates; that which pollutes.

DEFILIATION De*fil`i*a"tion, n. Etym: [L. de- + filius son.]

Defn: Abstraction of a child from its parents. Lamb.

DEFINABLE De*fin"a*ble, a. Etym: [From Define.]

Defn: Capable of being defined, limited, or explained; determinable; describable by definition; ascertainable; as, definable limits; definable distinctions or regulations; definable words. -- De*fin"a*bly, adv.

DEFINE De*fine", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defined; p. pr. & vb. n. Defining.] Etym: [OE. definer, usually, to end, to finish, F. définir to define, L. definire to limit, define; de- + finire to limit, end, finis boundary, limit, end. See Final, Finish.]

1. To fix the bounds of; to bring to a termination; to end. "To define controversies." Barrow.

2. To determine or clearly exhibit the boundaries of; to mark the limits of; as, to define the extent of a kingdom or country.

3. To determine with precision; to mark out with distinctness; to ascertain or exhibit clearly; as, the defining power of an optical instrument. Rings . . . very distinct and well defined. Sir I. Newton.

4. To determine the precise signification of; to fix the meaning of; to describe accurately; to explain; to expound or interpret; as, to define a word, a phrase, or a scientific term. They define virtue to be life ordered according to nature. Robynson (More's Utopia).

DEFINE De*fine", v. i.

Defn: To determine; to decide. [Obs.]

DEFINEMENT De*fine"ment, n.

Defn: The act of defining; definition; description. [Obs.] Shak.

DEFINER De*fin"er, n.

Defn: One who defines or explains.

DEFINITE Def"i*nite, a. Etym: [L. definitis, p. p. of definire: cf. F. défini. See Define.]

1. Having certain or distinct; determinate in extent or greatness; limited; fixed; as, definite dimensions; a definite measure; a definite period or interval. Elements combine in definite proportions. Whewell.

2. Having certain limits in signification; determinate; certain; precise; fixed; exact; clear; as, a definite word, term, or expression.

3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.

4. Serving to define or restrict; limiting; determining; as, the definite article. Definite article (Gram.), the article the, which is used to designate a particular person or thing, or a particular class of persons or things; -- also called a definitive. See Definitive, n. -- Definite inflorescence. (Bot.) See Determinate inflorescence, under Determinate. -- Law of definite proportions (Chem.), the essential law of chemical combination that every definite compound always contains the same elements in the same proportions by weight; and, if two or more elements form more than one compound with each other, the relative proportions of each are fixed. Compare Law of multiple proportions, under Multiple.

DEFINITE Def"i*nite, n.

Defn: A thing defined or determined. [Obs.]

DEFINITELY Def"i*nite*ly, adv.

Defn: In a definite manner; with precision; precisely; determinately.

DEFINITENESS Def"i*nite*ness, n.

Defn: The state of being definite; determinateness; precision; certainty.

DEFINITION Def`i*ni"tion, n. Etym: [L. definitio: cf. F. définition.]

1. The act of defining; determination of the limits; as, the telescope accurate in definition.

2. Act of ascertaining and explaining the signification; a description of a thing by its properties; an explanation of the meaning of a word or term; as, the definition of "circle;" the definition of "wit;" an exact definition; a loose definition. Definition being nothing but making another understand by words what the term defined stands for. Locke.

3. Description; sort. [R.] "A new creature of another definition." Jer. Taylor.

4. (Logic)

Defn: An exact enunciation of the constituents which make up the logical essence.

5. (Opt.)

Defn: Distinctness or clearness, as of an image formed by an optical instrument; precision in detail.

Syn. -- Definition, Explanation, Description. A definition is designed to settle a thing in its compass and extent; an explanation is intended to remove some obscurity or misunderstanding, and is therefore more extended and minute; a description enters into striking particulars with a view to interest or impress by graphic effect. It is not therefore true, though often said, that description is only an extended definition. "Logicians distinguish definitions into essential and accidental. An essential definition states what are regarded as the constituent parts of the essence of that which is to be defined; and an accidental definition lays down what are regarded as circumstances belonging to it, viz., properties or accidents, such as causes, effects, etc." Whately.

DEFINITIONAL Def`i*ni"tion*al, a.

Defn: Relating to definition; of the nature of a definition; employed in defining.

DEFINITIVE De*fin"i*tive, a. Etym: [L. definitivus: cf. F. définitif.]

1. Determinate; positive; final; conclusive; unconditional; express. A strict and definitive truth. Sir T. Browne. Some definitive . . . scheme of reconciliation. Prescott.

2. Limiting; determining; as, a definitive word.

3. Determined; resolved. [Obs.] Shak.

DEFINITIVE De*fin"i*tive, n. (Gram.)

Defn: A word used to define or limit the extent of the signification of a common noun, such as the definite article, and some pronouns.

Note: Definitives . . . are commonly called by grammarians articles. . . . They are of two kinds, either those properly and strictly so called, or else pronominal articles, such as this, that, any, other, some, all, no, none, etc. Harris (Hermes).

DEFINITIVELY De*fin"i*tive*ly, adv.

Defn: In a definitive manner.

DEFINITIVENESS De*fin"i*tive*ness, n.

Defn: The quality of being definitive.

DEFINITUDE De*fin"i*tude, n.

Defn: Definiteness. [R.] Definitude . . . is a knowledge of minute differences. Sir W. Hamilton.

DEFIX De*fix", v. t. Etym: [L. defixus, p. p. of defigere to fix; de- + figere to fix.]

Defn: To fix; to fasten; to establish. [Obs.] "To defix their princely seat . . . in that extreme province." Hakluyt.

DEFLAGRABILITY Def`la*gra*bil"i*ty, n. (Chem.)

Defn: The state or quality of being deflagrable. The ready deflagrability . . . of saltpeter. Boyle.

DEFLAGRABLE De*fla"gra*ble, a. Etym: [See Deflagrate.] (Chem.)

Defn: Burning with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; hence, slightly explosive; liable to snap and crackle when heated, as salt.

DEFLAGRATE Def"la*grate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Deflagrated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflagrating.] Etym: [L. deflagratus, p. p. of deflagrare to burn up; de- + flagrare to flame, burn.] (Chem.)

Defn: To burn with a sudden and sparkling combustion, as niter; also, to snap and crackle with slight explosions when heated, as salt.

DEFLAGRATE Def"la*grate, v. t. (Chem.)

Defn: To cause to burn with sudden and sparkling combustion, as by the action of intense heat; to burn or vaporize suddenly; as, to deflagrate refractory metals in the oxyhydrogen flame.

DEFLAGRATION Def`la*gra"tion, n. Etym: [L. deflagratio: cf. F. déflagration.]

1. A burning up; conflagration. "Innumerable deluges and deflagrations." Bp. Pearson.

2. (Chem.)

Defn: The act or process of deflagrating.

DEFLAGRATOR Def"la*gra`tor, n. (Chem.)

Defn: A form of the voltaic battery having large plates, used for producing rapid and powerful combustion.

DEFLATE De*flate", v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- down + L. flare, flatus to blow.]

Defn: To reduce from an inflated condition.

DEFLECT De*flect", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deflected; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflecting.] Etym: [L. deflectere; de- + flectere to bend or turn. See Flexible.]

Defn: To cause to turn aside; to bend; as, rays of light are often deflected. Sitting with their knees deflected under them. Lord (1630).

DEFLECT De*flect", v. i.

Defn: To turn aside; to deviate from a right or a horizontal line, or from a proper position, course or direction; to swerve. At some part of the Azores, the needle deflecteth not, but lieth in the true meridian. Sir T. Browne. To deflect from the line of truth and reason. Warburton.

DEFLECTABLE De*flect"a*ble, a.

Defn: Capable of being deflected.

DEFLECTED De*flect"ed, a.

1. Turned aside; deviating from a direct line or course.

2. Bent downward; deflexed.

DEFLECTION De*flec"tion, n. Etym: [L. deflexio, fr. deflectere: cf. F. déflexion.]

1. The act of turning aside, or state of being turned aside; a turning from a right line or proper course; a bending, esp. downward; deviation. The other leads to the same point, through certain deflections. Lowth.

2. (Gunnery)

Defn: The deviation of a shot or ball from its true course.

3. (Opt.)

Defn: A deviation of the rays of light toward the surface of an opaque body; inflection; diffraction.

4. (Engin.)

Defn: The bending which a beam or girder undergoes from its own weight or by reason of a load.

DEFLECTIONIZATION De*flec`tion*i*za"tion, n.

Defn: The act of freeing from inflections. Earle.

DEFLECTIONIZE De*flec"tion*ize, v. t.

Defn: To free from inflections. Deflectionized languages are said to be analytic. Earle.

DEFLECTIVE De*flect"ive, a.

Defn: Causing deflection. Deflective forces, forces that cause a body to deviate from its course.

DEFLECTOR De*flect"or, n. (Mech.)

Defn: That which deflects, as a diaphragm in a furnace, or a come in a lamp (to deflect and mingle air and gases and help combustion).

DEFLEXED De*flexed", a.

Defn: Bent abruptly downward.

DEFLEXION De*flex"ion, n.

Defn: See Deflection.

DEFLEXURE De*flex"ure, n. Etym: [From L. deflectere, deflexum. See Deflect.]

Defn: A bending or turning aside; deflection. Bailey.

DEFLORATE De*flo"rate, a. Etym: [LL. defloratus, p. p. of deflorare. See Deflour.] (Bot.)

Defn: Past the flowering state; having shed its pollen. Gray.

DEFLORATION Def`lo*ra"tion, n. Etym: [LL. defloratio: cf. F. défloration.]

1. The act of deflouring; as, the defloration if a virgin. Johnson.

2. That which is chosen as the flower or choicest part; careful culling or selection. [R.] The laws of Normandy are, in a great measure, the defloration of the English laws. Sir M. Hale.

DEFLOUR De*flour", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defloured; p. pr. & vb. n. Deflouring.] Etym: [F. déflorer, LL. deflorare; L. de- + flos, floris, flower. See Flower, and cf. Deflorate.]

1. To deprive of flowers.

2. To take away the prime beauty and grace of; to rob of the choicest ornament. He died innocent and before the sweetness of his soul was defloured and ravished from him. Jer. Taylor.

3. To deprive of virginity, as a woman; to violate; to ravish; also, to seduce.

DEFLOURER De*flour"er, n.

Defn: One who deflours; a ravisher.

DEFLOW De*flow", v. i. Etym: [Pref. de- + flow: cf. L. defluere.]

Defn: To flow down. [Obs.] Sir T. Browne.

DEFLOWER De*flow"er, v. t. Etym: [Pref. de- + flower.]

Defn: Same as Deflour. An earthquake . . . deflowering the gardens. W. Montagu. If a man had deflowered a virgin. Milton.

DEFLOWERER De*flow"er*er, n.

Defn: See Deflourer. Milton.

DEFLUOUS Def"lu*ous, a. Etym: [L. defluus, fr. defluere to flow down; de- + fluere to flow.]

Defn: Flowing down; falling off. [Obs.] Bailey.

DEFLUX De*flux", n. Etym: [L. defluxus, fr. defluere, defluxum.]

Defn: Downward flow. [Obs.] Bacon.

DEFLUXION De*flux"ion, n. Etym: [L. defluxio.] (Med.)

Defn: A discharge or flowing of humors or fluid matter, as from the nose in catarrh; -- sometimes used synonymously with inflammation. Dunglison.

DEFLY Def"ly, adv.

Defn: Deftly. [Obs.] Spenser.

DEFOEDATION Def`oe*da"tion, n.

Defn: Defedation. [Obs.]

DEFOLIATE; DEFOLIATED De*fo"li*ate, De*fo"li*a`ted. a.

Defn: Deprived of leaves, as by their natural fall.

DEFOLIATION De*fo`li*a"tion, n. Etym: [LL. defoliare, defoliatum, to shed leaves; L. de- + folium leaf: cf. F. défoliation.]

Defn: The separation of ripened leaves from a branch or stem; the falling or shedding of the leaves.

DEFORCE De*force", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deforced; p. pr. & vb. n. Deforcing.] Etym: [OF. deforcier; de- or des- (L. de or dis-) + forcier, F. forcer. See Force, v.] (Law) (a) To keep from the rightful owner; to withhold wrongfully the possession of, as of lands or a freehold. (b) (Scots Law) To resist the execution of the law; to oppose by force, as an officer in the execution of his duty. Burrill.

DEFORCEMENT De*force"ment, n. Etym: [OF.] (Law) (a) A keeping out by force or wrong; a wrongful withholding, as of lands or tenements, to which another has a right. (b) (Scots Law) Resistance to an officer in the execution of law. Burrill.

DEFORCEOR De*force"or, n.

Defn: Same as Deforciant. [Obs.]

DEFORCIANT De*for"ciant, n. Etym: [OF. deforciant, p. pr. of deforcier. See Deforce.] (Eng. Law) (a) One who keeps out of possession the rightful owner of an estate. (b) One against whom a fictitious action of fine was brought. [Obs.] Burrill.

DEFORCIATION De*for`ci*a"tion, n. (Law)

Defn: Same as Deforcement, n.

DEFOREST De*for"est, v. t.

Defn: To clear of forests; to dis U. S. Agric. Reports.

DEFORM De*form", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deformed; p. pr. & vb. n. Deforming.] Etym: [L. deformare; de- + formare to form, shape, fr. forma: cf. F. déformer. See Form.]

1. To spoil the form of; to mar in form; to misshape; to disfigure. Deformed, unfinished, sent before my time Into this breathing world. Shak.

2. To render displeasing; to deprive of comeliness, grace, or perfection; to dishonor. Above those passions that this world deform. Thomson.

DEFORM De*form", a. Etym: [L. deformis; de- + forma form: cf. OF. deforme, F. difforme. Cf. Difform.]

Defn: Deformed; misshapen; shapeless; horrid. [Obs.] Sight so deform what heart of rock could long Dry-eyed behold Milton.

DEFORMATION Def`or*ma"tion, n. Etym: [L. deformatio: cf. F. déformation.]

1. The act of deforming, or state of anything deformed. Bp. Hall.

2. Transformation; change of shape.

DEFORMED De*formed", a.

Defn: Unnatural or distorted in form; having a deformity; misshapen; disfigured; as, a deformed person; a deformed head. -- De*form"ed*ly, adv. -- De*form"ed*ness, n.

DEFORMER De*form"er, n.

Defn: One who deforms.

DEFORMITY De*form"i*ty, n.; pl. Deformities. Etym: [L. deformitas, fr. deformis: cf. OF. deformeté, deformité, F. difformité. See Deform, v. & a., and cf. Disformity.]