List of Abbreviations Used in This Dictionary

Decamp, de-kamp′, v.i. to go away, esp. secretly.—n. Decamp′ment. [Fr. décamper.]

Decanal, dek′an-al, adj. pertaining to a dean or deanery.

Decandria, de-kan′dri-a, n. a class of plants in the Linnæan system having ten stamens.—adjs. Decan′drian, Decan′drous. [Gr. deka, ten, and anēr, andros, a man.]

Decangular, dek-ang′gū-lar, adj. having ten angles. [Gr. deka, ten, and L. angulus, an angle.]

Decant, de-kant′, v.t. to pour off, leaving sediment: to pour from one vessel into another.—ns. Decantā′tion; Decant′er, an ornamental bottle for holding decanted liquor. [Fr. décanter (It. decantare)—de, from, and Low L. cantus, a side or corner.]

Decaphyllous, dek-a-fil′us, adj. having ten leaves. [Gr. deka, ten, phyllon, a leaf.]

Decapitate, de-kap′i-tāt, v.t. to take the head from: to behead.—n. Decapitā′tion. [Low L. decapitāre—L. de, from, and caput, capitis, the head.]

Decapod, dek′a-pod, n. one of the shellfish which have ten feet or claws, as the crab.—adjs. Deca′podal, Deca′podous. [Gr. deka, ten, and pous, podos, a foot.]

Decarbonate, de-kär′bon-āt, v.t. to deprive of carbon—also Decar′bonise, Decar′burise.—ns. Decarbonisā′tion, Decarburisā′tion. [De, from, carbon.]

Decastich, dek′a-stik, n. a poem of ten lines. [Gr. deka, ten, and stichos, a row, a verse.]

Decastyle, dek′a-stīl, n. a portico with ten columns in front. [Gr. deka, ten, stylos, a column.]

Decasyllabic, dek-a-sil-ab′ik, adj. having ten syllables. [Gr. deka, ten, syllabē, a syllable.]

Decaudate, de-kaw′dāt, v.t. to cut off the tail of. [L. de, and cauda, tail.]

Decay, dē-kā′, v.i. to fall away from a state of health or excellence: to waste away.—v.t. to cause to waste away: to impair.—n. a falling into a worse or less perfect state: a passing away: loss of fortune: (obs.) misfortune.—p.adj. Decayed′, reduced in circumstances.—n. Decayed′ness. [O. Fr. decair—L. de, from cadĕre, to fall.]

Decease, dē-sēs′, n. death.—v.i. to die.—p.adj. Deceased′, dead. [O. Fr. deces (Fr. décès)—L. decessus—de, away, cedĕre, cessum, to go.]

Deceit, de-sēt′, n. act of deceiving: anything intended to mislead another: fraud: falseness.—adj. Deceit′ful, full of deceit: disposed or tending to deceive: insincere.—adv. Deceit′fully.—n. Deceit′fulness. [O. Fr., from L. decipĕre, deceptum, to deceive.]

Deceive, de-sēv′, v.t. to mislead or cause to err: to cheat: to disappoint.—adj. Deceiv′able, that may be deceived: exposed to imposture.—n. Deceiv′ableness.—adj. Deceiv′ably.—n. Deceiv′er. [Fr. décevoir—L. decipĕre, deceptum—de, from capĕre, to take, catch.]

December, de-sem′bėr, n. the tenth month among the Romans, who began their year with March: with us, the twelfth month of the year.—adj. Decem′berly, wintry, cold.—n. Decem′brist, one of those who took part in the Russian conspiracy of December 1825. [L. decem, ten.]

Decemdentate, dē-sem-den′tāt, adj. having ten points or teeth.

Decemfid, dē-sem′fid, adj. divided into ten parts.

Decemlocular, dē-sem-lok′ū-lar, adj. ten-celled.

Decempedal, dē-sem′ped-al, adj. having ten feet.

Decemvir, de-sem′vir, n. one of ten magistrates who at one time had absolute power in ancient Rome:—pl. Decem′virs, or (L.) Decemviri (dē-sem′vi-rī).—adj. Decem′viral.—n. Decem′virāte, a body of ten men in office: the term of office of decemvirs. [L. decem, ten, and vir, a man.]

Decennary, de-sen′ar-i, n. a period of ten years—also Decenn′ium.—adj. Decenn′ial, consisting of or happening every ten years. [L. decem, ten, and annus, a year.]

Decennoval, de-sen′ō-val, adj. pertaining to the number 15.

Decent, dē′sent, adj. becoming: seemly: proper: modest: moderate: tolerable.—n. Dē′cency, becomingness: modesty.—adv. Dē′cently. [L. decens, decentis, pr.p. of decēre, to be becoming.]

Decentralise, de-sen′tral-īz, v.t. to withdraw from the centre: to transfer functions from the central government to local centres.—n. Decentralisā′tion. [L. de, neg., and centralise.]

Deception, de-sep′shun, n. act of deceiving: the means by which it is sought to deceive.—n. Deceptibil′ity.—adjs. Decept′ible, capable of being deceived; Decep′tious (Shak.), deceitful; Decep′tive, tending to deceive: misleading.—adv. Decep′tively.—n. Decep′tiveness.—adj. Decep′tory, tending to deceive. [O. Fr.,—Low L. deceptio, -nis—decipĕre, to deceive.]

Decern, de-sėrn′, v.t. and v.i. (Scots law) to judge: to decree: to pass judgment. [O. Fr. decerner—L. decernĕre—de, and cernĕre, to distinguish.]

Decession, de-sesh′un, n. departure. [See Decease.]

Decharm, dē-chärm′, v.t. to disenchant.

Dechristianise, de-krist′yan-īz, v.t. to turn from Christianity: to destroy Christian elements.

Deciare, de′si-är, n. the tenth part of an are. [Fr.,—L. deci- (in decimus), and are.]

Decide, de-sīd′, v.t. to determine: to end: to settle: to resolve.—adjs. Decid′able, capable of being decided; Decid′ed, determined: clear, unmistakable: resolute.—adv. Decid′edly. [O. Fr. decider—L. decidēre—de, away, cædĕre, to cut.]

Deciduous, de-sid′ū-us, adj. that fall in autumn, as leaves: not permanent.—n. Decid′ua, a membrane of the uterus discharged after parturition.—adj. Decid′uāte.—n. Decid′uousness.—Deciduous trees, those which annually lose and renew their leaves. [L. deciduus—decidĕre, de, from, cadĕre, to fall.]

Decigramme, de′si-gram, n. the tenth part of a gramme. [See Gramme (3).]

Decilitre, des′i-lē-tėr, n. a measure of capacity equal to 1⁄10 litre.

Decillion, de-sil′yun, n. a million raised to the tenth power: in the French and American notation, a thousand raised to the eleventh power.

Decimal, des′i-mal, adj. numbered or proceeding by tens.—n. a fraction having ten or some power of ten for its denominator.—v.t. Dec′imalise, to reduce to the decimal system.—ns. Dec′imalism; Dec′imalist.—adv. Dec′imally.—Decimal notation, a system of writing numbers based on ten and powers of ten, like our ordinary system; Decimal system, a system whose units are tens and powers of tens, esp. in the French metric system of weights and measures. [Fr.,—Low L. decimalis—decem, ten.]

Decimate, des′i-māt, v.t. to take the tenth part of: to put to death every tenth man.—ns. Decimā′tion, a military punishment, by which every tenth man was selected by lot and put to death or otherwise punished; Dec′imator. [L. decimāre, -ātum—decimus, tenth.]

Decime, de-sēm′, n. a French coin equal to 1⁄10 franc.

Decimetre, des′i-mē-tėr, n. a measure of length equal to 1⁄10 metre.

Decipher, de-sī′fėr, v.t. to uncipher or read secret writing: to make out what is unintelligible or obscure: to reveal.—adj. Deci′pherable.—n. Deci′pherment. [L. de, neg. and cipher.]

Decision, de-sizh′un, n. the act of deciding: settlement: judgment: the quality of being decided in character.—adj. Decī′sive, having the power of deciding: showing decision: final: positive.—adv. Decī′sively.—n. Decī′siveness.—adj. Decī′sory, decisive. [See Decide.]

Decistère, des-i-stār, n. a cubic measure equal to 1⁄10 stere.

Decitizenise, dē-sit′i-zen-īz, v.t. to deprive of citizenship.

Decivilise, dē-siv′i-līz, v.t. to reduce from a civilised to a more savage state.

Deck, dek, v.t. to cover: to clothe: to adorn: to furnish with a deck, as a vessel.—n. a covering: a horizontal platform extending from one side of a vessel to the other, thereby joining them together, and forming both a floor and a covering: the part of a pack of cards that remains after the deal, or the part of a pack necessary for playing such games as bezique, &c.—ns. Deck′-car′go, cargo stowed on the deck of a vessel; Deck′-chair, a light chair of spars and canvas, to be used on board ship; Deck′er, the person or thing that decks: a vessel which has a deck or decks, used only in composition, as a three-decker, a ship with three decks; Deck′-hand, a person employed on deck; Deck′-house, a house or box on deck; Deck′ing, adornment; Deck′-load, a deck-cargo; Deck′-pass′age, a passage securing only the right of being on deck, without cabin accommodation; Deck′-pass′enger; Flush′-deck, a deck continuous from stem to stern at the same level (see Quarter-deck); Gun′-deck, a deck on which guns are carried; Hur′ricane-deck, a light partial deck over the saloon of some steamers; Main′-deck, the deck below the spar-deck; Spar′-deck, the upper deck of a ship. [Dut. dekken, to cover; Ger. decken; akin to L. tegĕre.]

Deckle, dek′l, n. the gauge on a paper-making machine.—n. Deck′le-edge, the raw or ragged edge of handmade paper.—adj. Deck′le-edged, having a rough uncut edge. [Ger.]

Declaim, de-klām′, v.i. to make a set or rhetorical speech: to harangue: to recite in public.—ns. Declaim′ant, Declaim′er.—p.adj. Declaim′ing.—ns. Declamā′tion, act of declaiming: a set speech in public: display in speaking.—adj. Declam′atory, of the nature of declamation: appealing to the passions: noisy and rhetorical merely. [L. declamāre—de, inten., clamāre, to cry out.]

Declare, de-klār′, v.t. to make known: to announce: to assert: to make a full statement of, as of goods at a custom-house.—v.i. to make a statement: to show cards in order to score.—adj. Declār′able, capable of being declared, exhibited, or proved.—ns. Declar′ant, one who makes a declaration; Declarā′tion, act of declaring: that which is declared: a written affirmation: in the criminal law of Scotland, the statement made by the prisoner before the magistrate: in common law, the pleading in which the plaintiff in an action at law sets forth his case against the defendant.—adjs. Declar′ative, Declar′atory, explanatory.—advs. Declar′atively, Declar′atorily.—n. Declar′ator, a form of action in the Court of Session in Scotland, with the view of having a fact judicially ascertained and declared.—adj. Declared′, avowed.—adv. Decla′redly, avowedly.—Declaratory Act, an act intended to explain an old law which had become obscure or a subject of controversy. [Fr. déclarer, from L. declarāre, -ātum—de, wholly, clarus, clear.]

Declension, de-klen′shun, n. a falling off: decay: descent: (gram.) change of termination for the oblique cases. [See Decline.]

Decline, de-klīn′, v.i. to bend or turn away from (a straight line); to deviate: to refuse: to bend down: to fail or decay: to stoop or condescend: to draw to an end.—v.t. to bend down: to turn away from: to refuse: to avoid: (gram.) to give the changes of a word in the oblique cases.—n. a falling off: deviation: decay: a gradual sinking of the bodily faculties, consumption.—adjs. Declin′able, having inflection for the oblique cases; Declī′nal, bending downward; Dec′linant (her.), having the tail hanging down—also Dec′livant.—ns. Declinā′tion, act of declining: a sloping or bending downward: deviation: (astron.) distance from the celestial equator; Dec′linātor, an instrument determining declination.—adj. Declin′atory, containing a declination or refusal—ns. Declin′ature, act of declining or refusing: (law) a plea declining the jurisdiction of a judge; Declinom′eter, an instrument for measuring the declination of the compass—i.e. the deviation of the magnetic needle from the true north. [Fr. décliner—L. de, down, away from, clināre, to bend. See Lean.]

Declivity, de-kliv′i-ti, n. a place that declines, or slopes downward, opposite of acclivity: inclination downward: a gradual descent.—adjs. Decliv′itous, Declī′vous. [Fr.,—L. declivitas—de, downward, clivus, sloping, akin to clināre.]

Decoct, de-kokt′, v.t. to prepare by boiling: to extract the substance of by boiling: to boil: to devise.—adjs. Decoc′tible, Decoc′tive.—ns. Decoc′tion, an extract of anything got by boiling; Decoc′ture, a substance prepared by decoction. [L. decoquĕre, decoctum—de, down, coquĕre, to cook.]

Decode, de-kōd′, v.t. to translate the symbols in a code telegram into ordinary language.

Decollate, de-kol′āt, v.t. to behead.—p.adj. Decoll′ated, rounded off, as the apex of a shell.—n. Decollā′tion, the act of beheading: a picture of a decapitation, esp. of the head of St John the Baptist on a charger: the festival of the Baptist, Aug. 29. [L. decollāre—de, from, collum, the neck.]

Decolleté, dā-kol-e-tā′, adj. with neck uncovered: of dress, low cut. [Fr. décolleter, to bare the neck and shoulders. Cf. Decollate.]

Decolour, de-kul′ur, v.t. to deprive of colour—also Decol′ourise.—n. Decol′orant, a substance that bleaches or removes colour.—v.t. Decol′orate, to deprive of colour.—ns. Decolorā′tion, removal or absence of colour; Decolorisā′tion. [Fr. décolorer—L. decolorāre—de, from, color, colour.]

Decomplex, dē′kom-pleks, adj. repeatedly compound.

Decompose, de-kom-poz′, v.t. to separate the parts composing anything: to resolve into original elements.—v.i. to decay, rot.—adj. Decompos′able.—n. Decomposi′tion, act of decomposing: decay or dissolution: also the compounding of things already compound. [L. de, neg., and compose.]

Decomposite, dē-kom-poz′it, or de-kom′-, adj. compound a second time or more than once. [L. de, and composite.]

Decompound, de-kom-pownd′, v.t. to compound again: to compound things already compounded; also, to divide a thing into its constituent parts.—adj. compounded a second time.—adj. Decompound′able. [L. de, and compound.]

Deconcentrate, de-kon-sen′trāt, or de-kon′sen-trāt, v.t. to scatter.—n. Deconcentrā′tion. [De, and concentrate.]

Deconsecrate, de-kon′se-krāt, v.t. to deprive of the character given by consecration: to secularise.—n. Deconsecrā′tion.

Decorate, dek′o-rāt, v.t. to ornament, to beautify: to honour with a badge or medal.—adj. Dec′orated.—n. Decorā′tion, ornament: badge of an order.—adj. Dec′orātive, ornamental.—ns. Dec′orātiveness; Dec′orātor.—Decorated style (archit.), a style of Gothic architecture, elaborated and richly decorated, which prevailed till near the end of the 14th century.—Decoration Day, May 30th, when the memory of the soldiers who fell in the American Civil War of 1861-65 is honoured by the decoration of their graves, speeches, processions, &c. [L. decorāre, -ātum—decus, what is becoming—decēre, to be becoming.]

Decorous, de-kō′rus, or dek′o-rus, adj. becoming: suitable: proper: decent.—adv. Decō′rously.—ns. Decō′rousness; Decō′rum, that which is becoming in outward appearance: propriety of conduct: decency. [L. decorus, becoming.]

Decorticate, de-kor′ti-kāt, v.t. to deprive of the bark, husk, or peel.—n. Decorticā′tion. [L. decorticāre, -ātum—de, from, and cortex, bark.]

Decoy, de-koy′, v.t. to allure: to entrap: to lure into a trap.—n. anything intended to allure into a snare: an apparatus of hoops and network for trapping wild-ducks—sometimes duck-coy.—n. Decoy′-duck, a wild-duck tamed and trained to entice others into a trap: (fig.) one employed to allure others into a snare. [L. de, down, and O. Fr. coi, quiet; the earlier verb to coy was confused with the Dut. kooi—L. cavea, a cage. See Coy.]

Decrassify, dē-kras′i-fī, v.t. to make less crass.

Decrease, de-krēs′, v.i. to become less: to be diminished by degrees in size or power.—v.t. to make less: to lessen gradually.—n. a growing less: loss.—adv. Decreas′ingly. [O. Fr. decrois, a decrease—L. descrescĕre—de, from, crescĕre, to grow.]

Decree, de-krē′, n. an order by one in authority: an edict or law: a judicial decision: a predetermined purpose.—v.t. to decide or determine by sentence in law: to appoint.—v.i. to make a decree:—pr.p. decree′ing; pa.p. decreed′.—adjs. Decree′able, capable of being decreed; Decrē′tive, having the force of a decree; Dec′rētory, Decretō′rial, established by a decree: determining: judicial.—Decree nisi (L. nisi, unless), a decree that becomes absolute unless cause be shown to the contrary—granted esp. in divorce cases. [O. Fr. decret—L. decretum—decernĕre, to decide.]

Decreet, de-krēt′, n. (Scots law) a court judgment.

Decrement, dek′re-ment, n. the act or state of decreasing: the quantity lost by decrease. [L. decrementum.]

Decrepit, de-krep′it, adj. worn out by the infirmities of old age: in the last stage of decay.—ns. Decrep′itness; Decrep′itude, state of being decrepit or worn out with age. [L. decrepitus, noiseless, very old—de, not, crepitus, a noise.]

Decrepitate, de-krep′i-tāt, v.i. to crackle, as salts when heated.—v.t. to roast so as to cause a continual crackling, to calcine.—n. Decrepitā′tion. [L. de, inten., crepitāre, to rattle much, freq. of crepāre.]

Decrescent, de-kres′ent, adj. becoming gradually less.—n. (mus.) Decrescen′do = Diminuendo (q.v.). [L.]

Decretal, de-krē′tal, adj. pertaining to a decree.—n. a decree, esp. of the pope: a book containing decrees: spec. in pl. the second part of the canon law, the decrees of various popes determining points of ecclesiastical law.—n. Decrē′tist, in medieval universities, a student of the decretals, a student of law.—adjs. Decrē′tive; Decrē′tory, pertaining to a decree, judicial. [L. decretalis—decretum.]

Decrew, de-krōō′, v.i. (Spens.) to decrease. [For decrue—O. Fr. decru, pa.p. of decroistre. See Decrease.]

Decrown, dē-krown′, v.t. to discrown. [Fr. découronner, to discrown.]

Decrustation, dē-krus-tā′shun, n. the act of removing a crust.

Decry, de-krī′, v.t. to cry down: to condemn: to censure as worthless: to blame:—pa.p. decried′.—ns. Decrī′al; Decrī′er. [Fr. de(s) = L. dis, and crier, to cry. See Cry.]

Decuman, dek′ū-man, adj. principal, large—of waves, &c.: connected with the principal gate of a Roman camp (near which the 10th cohort of the legion was stationed).—n. a great wave, as every tenth wave was supposed to be. [L. decumanus—decem, ten.]

Decumbent, de-kum′bent, adj. lying down: reclining on the ground.—ns. Decubā′tion, Decum′bence, Decum′bency, the act or posture of lying down.—adj. Decū′bital—n. Decū′bitus, a recumbent position, as of one sick in bed: a bed-sore.—adv. Decum′bently.—n. Decum′biture, the time when a sick person takes to bed. [L. decumbens—de, down, and cumbĕre, for cubāre, to lie.]

Decuple, dek′ū-pl, adj. tenfold.—n. a number ten times repeated.—v.t. to make tenfold. [Fr. décuple—L. decem, ten, and plicāre, to fold.]

Decurion, dē-kū′ri-on, n. an officer in a Roman army over ten soldiers—a Dec′ury or Decū′ria: any overseer of ten.—n. Decū′rionate. [L.]

Decurrent, de-kur′ent, adj. running or extending downward.—n. Decurr′ency.—adv. Decurr′ently.—n. Decur′sion, a running down: a military manœuvre or parade.—adj. Decur′sive.—adv. Decur′sively. [L. decurrens—de, down, currĕre, cursum, to run.]

Decurtate, dē-kur′tāt, adj. cut short, abridged.—v.t. to cut short. [L. decurtāre, -ātum, to cut short.]

Decussate, de-kus′āt, v.i. to cross in the form of an X: to cross, as lines, &c.—adjs. Decuss′ate, -d, crossed: arranged in pairs which cross each other, like some leaves.—adv. Decuss′ately.—n. Decussā′tion. [L. decussāre, -ātum—decussis, a coin of ten asses (decem asses) marked with X, symbol of ten.]

Dedal, Dedalian. See Dædal.

Dedicate, ded′i-kāt, v.t. to set apart and consecrate to some sacred purpose: to devote wholly or chiefly: to inscribe to any one.—adj. devoted: (Shak.) dedicated.—ns. Ded′icant, one who dedicates; Dedicatee (ded′i-kā-tē′), one to whom a thing is dedicated; Dedicā′tion, the act of dedicating: an address to a patron, prefixed to a book; Ded′icātor, one who dedicates.—adjs. Dedicatō′rial, Ded′icātory, of or pertaining to a dedication. [L. dedicāre, -ātum—de, down, dicēre, to declare.]

Dedimus, ded′i-mus, n. a writ commissioning one not a judge to act as a judge—from its first word. [L., dedimus, we have given, dăre, to give.]

Deduce, de-dūs′, v.t. to draw from: to infer a truth or opinion from what precedes or from premises.—ns. Deduce′ment, what is deduced; Deducibil′ity, the quality of being deducible.—adj. Deduc′ible, that may be deduced or inferred.—v.t. Deduct′, to take from: to separate: to subtract.—adj. Deduct′ible.—n. Deduc′tion, (1) the act of deducing: that which is deduced: the drawing of a particular truth from a general, antecedently known, as distinguished from Induction, rising from particular truths to a general; (2) the act of deducting: that which is deducted: abatement.—adj. Deduct′ive, that is, or that may be, deduced from premises or accepted principles.—adv. Deduct′ively. [L. deducĕre, deductum—de, from ducĕre, ductum, to lead.]

Dee, dē, v.i. Scotch for die.

Deed, dēd, n. something done: an act: an exploit: a legal transaction: the written evidence of it.—adj. Deed′ful (Tenn.), marked by deeds or exploits.—adv. Deed′ily.—adjs. Deed′less (Shak.), not having performed deeds; Deed′y, industrious, active.—Deed of saying (Shak.), performance of what has been said or promised.—In deed, in reality. [A.S. dæd—dón, to do; Ger. that—thun, to do.]

Deed, dēd, a Scotch form of indeed.

Deem, dēm, v.t. or v.i. to judge: to think: to believe.—n. (Shak.) opinion.—ns. Deem′ster, Demp′ster, one who pronounces judgment, a judge—esp. one of the two in the Isle of Man. [A.S. déman, to form a judgment—dóm, doom.]

Deep, dēp, adj. extending far down or far from the outside: difficult to understand: secret: wise and penetrating: cunning: very still: profound: profoundly learned in a language: intense, heart-felt: sunk low: low or grave: (of a road) encumbered with mud, sand, or ruts.—adv. in a deep manner.—n. that which is deep: the sea: anything profound or incomprehensible.—adjs. Deep′-browed, of high intellectual powers; Deep′-draw′ing (of ships), requiring considerable depth to float in; Deep′-drawn; Deep′-dyed, thorough-going, extreme—in a bad sense.—v.t. Deep′en, to make deeper in any sense: to increase.—v.i. to become deeper.—adjs. Deep′-fet (Shak.), fetched or drawn from a depth; Deep′-laid.—adv. Deep′ly.—adjs. Deep′-most, deepest; Deep′-mouthed, with deep voice.—n. Deep′ness.—adjs. Deep′-read, profoundly versed; Deep′-sea, pertaining to the deeper parts of the sea; Deep′-seat′ed, firmly seated; Deep′-toned, having a deep tone. [A.S. deóp; Ger. tief. Cf. Dip, Dive.]

Deer, dēr, n. a quadruped of several species, as the stag, reindeer, &c.; in M. E., any kind of animal.—ns. Deer′-hair, heath club-rush; Deer′-herd; Deer′-hound; Deer′-lick, a spot of salt ground whither deer come to lick the earth; Deer′-mouse, a common name for several species of American mice—so called from their agility; Deer′-neck, a thin, ill-shaped neck—of horses; Deer′-skin, the skin of the deer, or leather made therefrom; Deer′-stalk′er; Deer′-stalk′ing, the hunting of deer by stalking, or stealing upon them unawares. [A.S. deór; Ger. thier, Dut. dier; Ice. dýr. There is no connection with Gr. thēr, L. fera, a wild beast.]

Deface, de-fās′, v.t. to destroy or mar the face or external appearance of, to disfigure: to obliterate.—n. Deface′ment, act of defacing: injury to form or appearance: that which defaces.—adv. Defā′cingly. [O. Fr. desfacer—des = L. dis, away, facies, face.]

Defalcate, de-fal′kāt, v.t. to deduct a part of, of money, &c.: to embezzle money held on trust.—ns. Defalcā′tion, a diminution: a misappropriation of funds entrusted to one; Def′alcātor, a defaulter. [Low L. difalcāre, -ātum, to cut away—L. dis-, off, falcāre, to cut—falx, falcis, a sickle.]

Defame, de-fām′, v.t. to take away or destroy the good fame or reputation of: to speak evil of: to charge falsely.—n. (Spens.) infamy.—n. Defamā′tion, the act of defaming: calumny: slander.—adv. Defam′atorily.—adj. Defam′atory, containing defamation: injurious to reputation: calumnious.—p.adj. Defā′ming. [O. Fr. defamer—L. diffamāre—dis, away, fama, report.]

Default, de-fawlt′, n. a fault, failing, or failure: defect: neglect to do what duty or law requires: failure to account for money entrusted to one's charge: offence.—v.i. to fail through neglect of duty: to fail to appear in court when called upon.—n. Default′er, one who fails to appear in court, or to account for money entrusted to his care, or to settle a debt of honour.—Judgment by default, judgment given against a person because he fails to plead or make an appearance in court. [O. Fr. defaute and default—de = L. dis, apart, and faute.]

Defeasance, de-fēz′ans, n. undoing: defeat.—adjs. Defeas′anced, liable to be forfeited; Defeas′ible, that may be defeated or annulled.—n. Defeas′ibleness.—Deed of defeas′ance (Eng. law), an instrument which defeats the operation of some other deed or estate; and that which in the same deed is called a condition, in a separate deed is a defeasance. [O. Fr. defaisance—defaire, to undo.]

Defeat, de-fēt′, v.t. to frustrate: to ruin.—n. a frustration of plans: ruin: overthrow, as of an army in battle.—n. Defeat′ure (Spens.), defeat: disfigurement, disguise. [O. Fr. defait, defaire, to undo—L. dis, neg. facĕre, to do.]

Defecate, def′e-kāt, v.t. to clear from dregs or impurities: to purify from extraneous matter.—v.i. to void excrement.—n. Defecā′tion. [L. defæcāre, -ātum, to cleanse—de, from, fæx, fæcis, dregs.]

Defect, de-fekt′, n. a deficiency: a want: imperfection: blemish: fault.—n. Defectibil′ity.—adj. Defect′ible, liable to imperfection: deficient.—ns. Defec′tion, a failure, a falling away from duty: revolt; Defec′tionist.—adj. Defec′tive, having defect: wanting in some necessary quality: imperfect: faulty: insufficient.—adv. Defect′ively.—n. Defect′iveness.—The defects of one's qualities, virtues carried to excess, the faults apt to accompany or flow from good qualities. [L. deficĕre, defectum, to fail—de, down, and facĕre, to do.]

Defence, de-fens′, n. a defending: protection: vindication: (law) a defendant's plea.—pa.p. Defenc′ed (B.), fortified.—adj. Defence′less.—adv. Defence′lessly.—n. Defence′lessness. [See Defend.]

Defend, de-fend′, v.t. to keep off anything hurtful: to guard or protect: to maintain against attack: (obs.) to prohibit, forbid: (law) to resist, as a claim: to contest.—adj. Defend′able, that may be defended.—ns. Defend′ant, a defender: (law) a person accused or sued; Defendee′, one who is defended; Defend′er; Defen′sative, a protection; Defensibil′ity.—adjs. Defens′ible, that may be defended; Defens′ive, Defen′sory, serving to defend: in a state or posture of defence.—n. that which defends: posture of defence.—adv. Defens′ively.—Defender of the Faith, a title borne by the sovereigns of England since Henry VIII., on whom it was conferred in 1521 for his book against Luther.—Be on the defensive, to be in the position to defend one's self. [L. defendĕre, defensum, to ward off—de, off, and obs. fendĕre, to strike.]

Defer, de-fėr′, v.t. to put off to another time: to delay:—pr.p. defer′ring; pa.p. deferred′.—ns. Defer′ment; Defer′rer, a procrastinator.—Deferred annuity (see Annuity); Deferred pay, an allowance paid to soldiers on their discharge, or to their relations on their death; Deferred shares, shares issued by a trading company, but not entitling the holder to a full share of the profits of the company, and sometimes to none at all, until the expiration of a specified time or the occurrence of some event. [L. differre—dis, asunder, ferre, to bear, carry.]

Defer, de-fėr, v.i. to yield to the wishes or opinions of another, or to authority.—v.t. to submit to or lay before:—pr.p. defer′ring; pa.p. deferred′.—n. Def′erence, a deferring or yielding in judgment or opinion: regard: submission.—adj. Def′erent, bearing away, carrying off.—n. a deferent duct (as opposed to an afferent one) in the human body.—adj. Deferen′tial, expressing deference or respect.—adv. Deferen′tially. [L. deferre—de, down, and ferre, to bear.]

Defervescence, de-fer-ves′ens, n. abatement of heat: coolness: decrease of feverish symptoms.—Also Deferves′cency. [L. defervescĕre, to cease boiling—de, down, and fervescĕre, from fervēre, to boil.]

Defeudalise, dē-fū′dal-īz, v.t. to deprive of feudal character.

Deffly (Spens.). For Deftly.

Defiance, de-fī′ans, n. the act of defying: a challenge to combat: aggressiveness: contempt of opposition.—adj. Defī′ant, full of defiance, insolently bold.—adv. Defī′antly.—n. Defī′antness.—adj. Defī′atory, bidding defiance.—Bid defiance to, to defy.

Defibrinate, de-fī′bri-nāt, v.t. to deprive of fibrine—also Defī′brinise.—n. Defibrinā′tion.

Deficient, de-fish′ent, adj. wanting.—n. Defic′iency (sometimes Defic′ience), defect.—adv. Defic′iently.—ns. Defic′ientness; Def′icit, deficiency, esp. of revenue, as compared with expenditure. [L., deficĕre.]

Defile, dē-fīl′, or dē′fīl, v.i. to march off in file or line, or file by file.—n. a long narrow pass or way, in which troops can march only in file, or with a narrow front.—v.t. Defilāde′, to plan a fortification so as to protect it from enfilading fire.—n. Defile′ment. [Fr. défiler—L. dis, and filum, a thread.]

Defile, de-fīl′, v.t. to pollute or corrupt: to violate.—ns. Defile′ment, act of defiling: foulness; Defil′er. [L. de, and A.S. fýlan, fúl, foul.]

Defiliation, de-fil-i-ā′shun, n. depriving a parent of his child. [L. de, neg., and filius, a son.]

Define, de-fīn′, v.t. to fix the bounds or limits of: to determine with precision: to describe accurately: to fix the meaning of.—adj. Defin′able, that may be defined.—n. Define′ment (Shak.), description.—adj. Def′inite, defined: having distinct limits: fixed: exact: clear.—adv. Def′initely.—ns. Def′initeness; Defini′tion, a defining: a description of a thing by its properties: an explanation of the exact meaning of a word, term, or phrase.—adj. Defin′itive, defining or limiting: positive: final.—n. (gram.) an adjective used to limit the signification of a noun.—adv. Defin′itively.—ns. Defin′itiveness; Defin′itude, definitiveness. [Fr.,—L. definīre, -ītum, to set bounds to—de, finis, a limit.]

Deflagrate, def′la-grāt, v.i. or v.t. to burn down: to burn rapidly.—ns. Deflagrabil′ity, combustibility; Deflagrā′tion; Def′lagrator, a galvanic instrument for producing rapid combustion. [L. deflagrāre—de, down, flagrāre, to burn.]

Deflect, de-flekt′, v.i. or v.t. to turn aside: to swerve or deviate from a right line or proper course.—p.adj. Deflect′ed (bot.), bent abruptly downward.—ns. Deflec′tion, Deflex′ion, deviation.—adj. Deflec′tive, causing deflection.—n. Deflec′tor, a diaphragm in a lamp, stove, &c., by which the flame and gases are brought together and the combustion improved.—v.t. Deflex′ (zool., bot.), to bend down.—adj. Deflexed′.—n. Deflex′ure, deviation. [L. de, from, and flectĕre, flexum, to bend, turn.]

Deflorate, de-flō′rāt, adj. past the flowering state, as an anther after it has shed its pollen.—n. Deflorā′tion, the act of deflowering.

Deflower, Deflour, de-flowr′, v.t. to deprive of flowers: to deprive of grace and beauty: to ravish.—n. Deflow′erer. [O. Fr. deflorer—Low L. deflorāre, to strip flowers off—L. de, neg., flos, floris, a flower.]

Defluent, def′lōō-ent, adj. running down, decurrent.—n. Deflux′ion, a discharge of fluid in the body. [L. defluĕre—de, down, fluĕre, fluxum, to flow.]

Defoliate, de-fō′li-āt, v.t. to deprive of leaves.—adjs. Defō′liate, -d.—ns. Defoliā′tion, the falling off of leaves: the time of shedding leaves; Defō′liator. [Low L. defoliāre, -ātum—de, off, folium, a leaf.]

Deforce, de-fōrs′, v.t. (law) to keep out of possession by force: (Scots law) to resist an officer of the law in the execution of his duty.—ns. Deforce′ment; Deforc′iant, one who deforces; Deforciā′tion, a legal distress. [Fr. de = L. dis, and force.]

Deforest, de-for′est, v.t. to disforest: to deprive of forests.—n. Deforestā′tion.

Deform, de-form′, v.t. to alter or injure the form of: to disfigure.—adj. (Milt.) hideous, unshapely.—n. Deformā′tion.—p.adj. Deformed′, misshapen.—adv. Deform′edly.—ns. Deformed′ness; Deform′er; Deform′ity, state of being deformed: want of proper form: ugliness: disfigurement: anything that destroys beauty: an ugly feature or characteristic. [L. deformis, ugly—de, from, forma, beauty.]

Defoul, de-fowl′, v.t. to defile. [A.S. fúl, foul, whence by vowel change of ú to ý, fýlan.]

Defraud, de-frawd′, v.t. to deprive of by fraud: to withhold wrongfully: to cheat or deceive.—ns. Defraud′ment, Defraudā′tion. [L. defraudāre—de, from, and fraus, fraudis, fraud.]

Defray, de-frā′, v.t. to discharge the expenses of anything: to pay: (Spens.) to appease:—pr.p. defray′ing; pa.p. defrayed′.—ns. Defray′ment, Defray′al. [O. Fr. defrayer—de, and frais, expense—Low L. fractum, breakage, damage, expense.]

Deft, deft, adj. handy, clever.—adv. Deft′ly.—n. Deft′ness. [M. E. defte, dafte, simple, meek; A.S. ge-dæfte, meek—dæftan, gedæftan, prepare, make fit; the stem appears in ge-daf-en, to fit.]

Defunct, de-funkt′, adj. having finished the course of life, dead.—n. a dead person.—n. Defunc′tion (Shak.), death.—adj. Defunc′tive (Shak.), pertaining to the dead. [L. defungi, defunctus, to finish—de, and fungi, to perform.]

Defy, de-fī′, v.t. to challenge: to brave: (obs.) to discard, dislike:—pr.p. defy′ing; pa.p. defied′.—n. (Dryden) a defiance.—n. Defī′er. [O. Fr. defier—Low L. diffidāre, to renounce faith or allegiance—L. dis, asunder, and fīdĕre, to trust—fĭdes, faith.]

Dégagé, dā-ga-zhā′, adj. unembarrassed, unconstrained, easy. [Pa.p. of Fr. dégager, to disentangle.]

Degar′nish = Disgarnish (q.v.).

Degenerate, de-jen′ėr-āt, adj. having departed from the high qualities of race or kind: become base—also Degen′erous (obs.).—v.i. to fall from a nobler state: to be or to grow worse.—v.i. Degen′der (Spens.), to degenerate.—ns. Degen′eracy, Degenerā′tion, the act or process of becoming degenerate: the state of being degenerate.—adv. Degen′erately.—n. Degen′erateness.—adj. Degen′erating.—n. Degenerā′tionist, one who believes that the tendency of man is not to improve, but to degenerate.—adj. Degen′erative, tending or causing to degenerate. [L. degenerāre, -ātum, to depart from its kind—de, from, down, genus, genĕris, kind.]

Degerminator, de-jėr′mi-nā-tor, n. an apparatus for splitting grains and removing the germs. [L. de, neg., and germen, a germ.]

Deglutinate, de-glōō′tin-āt, v.t. to separate things that are glued together by softening the glue:—pr.p. deglu′tināting; pa.p. deglu′tināted. [L. deglutināre, -ātum—de, neg., and glutināre—gluten, glue.]

Deglutition, deg-lōō-tish′un, n. the act or power of swallowing.—adjs. Deglu′titive, Deglu′titory. [Fr.,—L. de, down, and glutīre, to swallow. See Glut.]

Degrade, de-grād′, v.t. to lower in grade or rank: to deprive of office or dignity: to lower in character, value, or position: to disgrace.—n. Degradā′tion, disgrace: degeneration: abortive structural development: a lowering in dignity.—p.adjs. Degrad′ed, reduced in rank: base: low: (her.) placed on steps; Degrad′ing, debasing: disgraceful. [Fr. dégrader—L. de, down, and gradus, a step. See Grade.]

Degree, de-grē′, n. a grade or step: one of a series of advances: relative position: rank: extent: a mark of distinction conferred by universities, whether earned by examination or granted as a mark of honour: the 360th part of a circle: 60 geographical miles: nearness of relationship: comparative amount of guilt: one of the three stages (positive, comparative, superlative) in the comparison of an adjective or an adverb.—By degrees, by little and little, gradually; Forbidden degrees, the degrees of consanguinity and affinity within which it is not permitted to marry; Songs of degrees, or Songs of ascents, Psalms cxx.-cxxxiv., either because sung by the Jews returning from captivity, or by the Jews coming up annually to attend the feasts at Jerusalem; To a degree, to a great degree, to an extreme. [Fr. degré—L. de, gradus, a step.]

Degust, dē-gust′, v.t. to taste, to relish.—v.i. to have a relishing taste.—v.t. Degust′āte (same as Degust).—n. Degustā′tion, the act of tasting. [L. de, down, and gustāre, to taste.]

Dehisce, dē-his′, v.i. to gape, to open as the capsules of a plant.—n. Dehis′cence.—adj. Dehis′cent. [L. dehiscens, pr.p. of dehiscĕre—de, inten., and hiscĕre, to gape.]

Dehort, de-hort′, v.t. to exhort from, to dissuade.—n. Dehortā′tion, dissuasion.—adjs. Dehor′tative, Dehor′tatory, dissuasive.—n. Dehort′er. [L. dehortāri—de, neg., and hortāri, to exhort.]

Dehumanise, de-hū′ma-nīz, v.t. to deprive of specifically human qualities. [L. de, neg., and humanise.]

Dehydrate, de-hī′drāt, v.t. to deprive of water, chemically.—v.i. to lose water.—n. Dehydrā′tion. [L. de, neg., Gr. hydōr.]

Deicide, dē′i-sīd, n. the killing of a god: the putting to death of Jesus Christ. [From a supposed Low L. form deicidium—deus, a god, and cædĕre, to kill.]

Deictic, dīk′tik, adj. proving directly.—adv. Deic′tically. [Gr. deiktikos—deiknynai, to show.]

Deid-thraw, dēd′-thraw, n. (Scot.) death-throe.

Deify, dē′i-fī, v.t. to exalt to the rank of a god: to worship as a deity: to make god-like:—pr.p. dē′ifying; pa.p. dē′ified.—adjs.—Deif′ic, -al, making god-like or divine.—n. Deificā′tion, the act of deifying: a deified embodiment.—adj. Dē′iform, god-like in form or character. [Fr. déifier—L. deificāre—deus, a god, and facĕre, to make.]

Deign, dān, v.i. to condescend.—v.t. to give: to allow: (obs.) to favour. [Fr. daigner—L. dignāri, to think worthy—dignus, worthy.]

Deil, dēl, Scotch form of devil.

Deinotherium, dī-no-thē′ri-um, n. = Dinotherium.

Deiparous, dē-ip′a-rus, adj. bearing a god—of the Virgin. [L. deus, a god, parĕre, to bring forth.]

Deipnosophist, dīp-nos′ō-fist, n. one who converses learnedly at dinner, a table-philosopher—from the title of a work by Athenæus. [Gr. deipnon, dinner, sophistēs—sophos, wise.]

Deist, dē′ist, n. one who believes in the existence of God, but not in revealed religion.—n. Dē′ism, the creed of a deist.—adjs. Deist′ic, -al.—adv. Deist′ically. [Fr. déiste, déisme—L. deus, a god.]

Deity, dē′i-ti, n. the divinity: godhead: a god or goddess: the Supreme Being. [Fr.,—Low L. deitas—L. deus, god; Sans. deva—div, to shine.]

Deject, de-jekt′, v.t. to cast down the countenance or spirits of.—adj. (Shak.) cast down.—adj. Deject′ed, cast down: dispirited.—adv. Deject′edly.—ns. Deject′edness; Dejec′tion, lowness of spirits: (pl.) fæcal discharge (also dejecta).—adj. Dejec′tory, promoting evacuations. [L. dejicĕre, -jectum—de, down, jacĕre, to cast.]

Delaine, dē-lān′, n. an untwilled light dress material, originally of wool—also Muslin-de-laine.

Delapse, dē-laps′, v.i. (obs.) to sink down.—n. Delap′sion.

Delate, de-lāt′, v.t. to carry on: to publish: to charge with a crime.—ns. Delā′tion; Delat′or. [L. deferre, delātum, to bring a report against, to inform—de, inten., ferre, to bear.]

Delay, de-lā′, v.t. to put off to another time: to defer: to hinder or retard.—v.i. to pause, linger, or put off time.—n. a putting off or deferring: a lingering: hinderance:—pr.p. delay′ing; pa.p. delayed′.—n. Delay′er.—adv. Delay′ingly. [O. Fr. delaier—L. differre, dilātum—dis, apart, ferre, to carry.]

Delay, de-lā′, v.t. (Spens.) to temper, dilute, weaken. [Fr. délayer, dilute—L. deliquāre, clarify.]

Dele, dē′lē, v.t., delete, efface, a direction in proof-reading to remove a superfluous letter or word, usually marked thus Dele symbol.—adjs. Del′eble, Del′ible, that can be deleted. [L., imper. of delēre, to delete.]

Delectable, de-lekt′a-bl, adj. delightful: pleasing.—n. Delect′ableness.—adv. Delect′ably.—n. Delectā′tion, delight. [Fr.,—L. delectabilis—delectāre, to delight.]

Delegate, del′e-gāt, v.t. to send as a legate or representative: to entrust or commit to.—n. one who is delegated: a deputy or representative: (U.S.) a person elected to represent a territory in congress, as distinguished from the representatives of the States.—adj. delegated, deputed.—ns. Delegā′tion, Del′egacy, a delegating: the persons delegated. [L. de, away, and legare, -ātum, to send as ambassador.]

Delete, de-lēt′, v.t. to blot out: to erase: to destroy.—n.pl. Delen′da, things to be deleted or erased.—n. Delē′tion.—adjs. Delē′tive, Delē′tory. [L. delēre, delētum, to blot out.]