Chapter 394

1. (Zo\'94l.) (a) A small beetle ( Anobium tessellatum and other allied species). By forcibly striking its head against woodwork it makes a ticking sound, which is a call of the sexes to each other, but has been imagined by superstitious people to presage death. (b) A small wingless insect, of the family Psocid\'91 , which makes a similar but fainter sound; -- called also deathtick .

She is always seeing apparitions and hearing deathwatches . Addison.

I did not hear the dog howl, mother, or the deathwatch beat. Tennyson.

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

Deaurate <Xpage=373>

De*au"rate (?) , a. [L. deauratus , p. p. of deaurare to gild; de- + aurum gold.] Gilded. [Obs.]

Deaurate <Xpage=373>

De*au"rate (?) , v. t. To gild. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Deauration <Xpage=373>

De`au*ra"tion (?) , n. Act of gilding. [Obs.]

Deave <Xpage=373>

Deave (?) , v. t. [See Deafen .] To stun or stupefy with noise; to deafen. [Scot.]

Debacchate <Xpage=373>

De*bac"chate (?) , v. i. [L. debacchatus , p. p. of debacchari to rage; de- + bacchari to rage like a bacchant.] To rave as a bacchanal. [R.]

Cockeram.

Debacchation <Xpage=373>

De`bac*cha"tion (?) , n. [L. debacchatio .] Wild raving or debauchery. [R.]

Prynne.

Debacle <Xpage=373>

De*ba"cle (?) , n. [F. d\'82b\'83cle , fr. d\'82b\'83cler to unbar, break loose; pref. d\'82- (prob. = L. dis ) + b\'83cler to bolt, fr. L. baculum a stick.] (Geol.) A breaking or bursting forth; a violent rush or flood of waters which breaks down opposing barriers, and hurls forward and disperses blocks of stone and other d\'82bris.

Debar <Xpage=373>

De*bar" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Debarred (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debarring .] [Pref. de- + bar .] To cut off from entrance, as if by a bar or barrier; to preclude; to hinder from approach, entry, or enjoyment; to shut out or exclude; to deny or refuse; -- with from , and sometimes with of .

Yet not so strictly hath our Lord imposed Labor, as to debar us when we need Refreshment. Milton.

Their wages were so low as to debar them, not only from the comforts but from the common decencies of civilized life. Buckle.

Debarb <Xpage=373>

De*barb" (?) , v. t. [Pref. de- + L. barba beard.] To deprive of the beard. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Debark <Xpage=373>

De"bark" (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Debarked (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debarking .] [F. d\'82barquer ; pref. d\'82- (L. dis- ) + barque . See Bark the vessel, and cf. Disbark .] To go ashore from a ship or boat; to disembark; to put ashore.

Debarkation <Xpage=373>

De`bar*ka"tion (?) , n. Disembarkation.

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

Debarment <Xpage=373>

De*bar"ment (?) , n. Hindrance from approach; exclusion.

Debarrass <Xpage=373>

De*bar"rass (?) , v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82barrasser . See Embarrass .] To disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]

Debase <Xpage=373>

De*base" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Debased (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debasing .] [Pref. de- + base . See Base , a. , and cf. Abase .] To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words.

The coin which was adulterated and debased . Hale.

It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with such frivolous disputes. Hooker.

And to debase the sons, exalts the sires. Pope.

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

Debased <Xpage=373>

De*based" (?) , a. (Her.) Turned upside down from its proper position; inverted; reversed.

Debasement <Xpage=373>

De*base"ment (?) , n. The act of debasing or the state of being debased.

Milton.

Debaser <Xpage=373>

De*bas"er (?) , n. One who, or that which, debases.

Debasingly <Xpage=373>

De*bas"ing*ly , adv. In a manner to debase.

Debatable <Xpage=373>

De*bat"a*ble (?) , a. [Cf. OF. debatable . See Debate .] Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question .

The Debatable Land &or; Ground , a tract of land between the Esk and the Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.

Debate <Xpage=373>

De*bate" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Debated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating .] [OF. debatre , F. d\'82battre ; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter , v. t. , and cf. Abate .]

1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.

Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. Prescott.

2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.

A wise council . . . that did debate this business. Shak.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself. Prov. xxv. 9.

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

Debate <Xpage=373>

De*bate" , v. i.

1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Well could he tourney and in lists debate . Spenser.

2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon .

He presents that great soul debating upon the subject of life and death with his intimate friends. Tatler.

Debate <Xpage=373>

De*bate" , n. [F. d\'82bat , fr. d\'82battre . See Debate , v. t. ]

1. A fight or fighting; contest; strife. [Archaic]

On the day of the Trinity next ensuing was a great debate . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. R. of Gloucester.

But question fierce and proud reply Gave signal soon of dire debate . Sir W. Scott.

2. Contention in words or arguments; discussion for the purpose of elucidating truth or influencing action; strife in argument; controversy; as, the debates in Parliament or in Congress .

Heard, noted, answer'd, as in full debate . Pope.

3. Subject of discussion. [R.]

Statutes and edicts concerning this debate . Milton.

Debateful <Xpage=373>

De*bate"ful (?) , a. Full of contention; contentious; quarrelsome. [Obs.]

Spenser.

Debatefully <Xpage=373>

De*bate"ful*ly , adv. With contention. [Obs.]

Debatement <Xpage=373>

De*bate"ment (?) , n. [Cf. OF. debatement a beating.] Controversy; deliberation; debate. [R.]

A serious question and debatement with myself. Milton.

Debater <Xpage=373>

De*bat"er (?) , n. One who debates; one given to argument; a disputant; a controvertist.

Debate where leisure serves with dull debaters . Shak.

Debating <Xpage=373>

De*bat"ing , n. The act of discussing or arguing; discussion.

Debating society &or; club , a society or club for the purpose of debate and improvement in extemporaneous speaking.

Debatingly <Xpage=373>

De*bat"ing*ly , adv. In the manner of a debate.

Debauch <Xpage=373>

De*bauch" (?) , v. t. & i. [ imp. & p. p. Debauched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debauching .] [F. d\'82baucher , prob. originally, to entice away from the workshop; pref. d\'82- (L. dis- or de ) + OF. bauche , bauge , hut, cf. F. bauge lair of a wild boar; prob. from G. or Icel., cf. Icel. b\'belkr . See Balk , n. ] To lead away from purity or excellence; to corrupt in character or principles; to mar; to vitiate; to pollute; to seduce; as, to debauch one's self by intemperance; to debauch a woman; to debauch an army.

Learning not debauched by ambition. Burke.

A man must have got his conscience thoroughly debauched and hardened before he can arrive to the height of sin. South.

Her pride debauched her judgment and her eyes. Cowley.

Debauch <Xpage=373>

De*bauch" , n. [Cf. F. d\'82bauche .]

1. Excess in eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; lewdness; debauchery.

The first physicians by debauch were made. Dryden.

2. An act or occasion of debauchery.

Silenus, from his night's debauch , Fatigued and sick. Cowley.

Debauched <Xpage=373>

De*bauched" (?) , a. Dissolute; dissipated. "A coarse and debauched look."

Ld. Lytton.

Debauchedly <Xpage=373>

De*bauch"ed*ly (?) , adv. In a profligate manner.

Debauchedness <Xpage=373>

De*bauch"ed*ness , n. The state of being debauched; intemperance.

Bp. Hall.

Debauchee <Xpage=373>

Deb`au*chee" (?) , n. [F. d\'82<?/bauch\'82 , n. , properly p. p. of d\'82baucher . See Debauch , v. t. ] One who is given to intemperance or bacchanalian excesses; a man habitually lewd; a libertine.

Debaucher <Xpage=373>

De*bauch"er (?) , n. One who debauches or corrupts others; especially, a seducer to lewdness.

<page="374"> Page 374

Debauchery <Xpage=374>

De*bauch"er*y (?) , n. ; pl. Debaucheries (<?/) .

1. Corruption of fidelity; seduction from virtue, duty, or allegiance.

The republic of Paris will endeavor to complete the debauchery of the army. Burke.

2. Excessive indulgence of the appetites; especially, excessive indulgence of lust; intemperance; sensuality; habitual lewdness.

Oppose . . . debauchery by temperance. Sprat.

Debauchment <Xpage=374>

De*bauch"ment (?) , n. The act of corrupting; the act of seducing from virtue or duty.

Debauchness <Xpage=374>

De*bauch"ness , n. Debauchedness. [Obs.]

Debeige <Xpage=374>

De*beige" (?) , n. [F. de of + beige the natural color of wool.] A kind of woolen or mixed dress goods. [Written also debage .]

Debel <Xpage=374>

De*bel" (?) , v. t. [Cf. F. d\'82beller . See Debellate .] To conquer. [Obs.]

Milton.

Debellate <Xpage=374>

De*bel"late (?) , v. t. [L. debellatus , p. p. of debellare to subdue; de- + bellum war.] To subdue; to conquer in war. [Obs.]

Speed.

Debellation <Xpage=374>

Deb`el*la"tion (?) , n. [LL. debellatio .] The act of conquering or subduing. [Obs.]

De bene esse <Xpage=374>

De be"ne es"se (?) . [L.] (Law) Of well being; of formal sufficiency for the time; conditionally; provisionally.

Abbott.

Debenture <Xpage=374>

De*ben"ture (?; 135) , n. [L. debentur they are due, fr. debere to owe; cf. F. debentur . So called because these receipts began with the words Debentur mihi .]

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

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

Burrill.

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

Debentured <Xpage=374>

De*ben"tured (?; 135) , a. Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods .

Debile <Xpage=374>

Deb"ile (?) , a. [L. debilis : cf. F. d\'82bile . See Debility .] Weak. [Obs.]

Shak.

Debilitant <Xpage=374>

De*bil"i*tant (?) , a. [L. debilitants , p. pr.] (Med.) Diminishing the energy of organs; reducing excitement; as, a debilitant drug .

Debilitate <Xpage=374>

De*bil"i*tate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Debilitated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debilitating .] [L. debilitatus , p. p. of debilitare to debilitate, fr. debilis . See Debility .] To impair the strength of; to weaken; to enfeeble; as, to debilitate the body by intemperance .

Various ails debilitate the mind. Jenyns.

The debilitated frame of Mr. Bertram was exhausted by this last effort. Sir W. Scott.

Debilitation <Xpage=374>

De*bil`i*ta"tion (?) , n. [L. debilitatio : cf. F. d\'82bilitation .] The act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who is debilitated; weakness.

Debility <Xpage=374>

De*bil"i*ty (?) , n. [L. debilitas , fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de- + habilis able: cf. F. d\'82bilit\'82 . See Able , a. ] The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor.

The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility , faintness, and sometimes sudden death. Arbuthnot.

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

Debit <Xpage=374>

Deb"it (?) , n. [L. debitum what is due, debt, from debere to owe: cf. F. d\'82bit . See Debt .] A debt; an entry on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; -- mostly used adjectively; as, the debit side of an account .

Debit <Xpage=374>

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

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

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

Debitor <Xpage=374>

Deb"it*or (?) , n. [L. See Debtor .] A debtor. [Obs.]

Shak.

Debituminization <Xpage=374>

De`bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion (?) , n. The act of depriving of bitumen.

Debituminize <Xpage=374>

De`bi*tu"mi*nize (?) , v. t. To deprive of bitumen.

D\'82blai <Xpage=374>

D\'82`blai" (?) , n. [F.] (Fort.) The cavity from which the earth for parapets, etc. (remblai), is taken.

Debonair <Xpage=374>

Deb`o*nair" (?) , a. [OE. debonere , OF. de bon aire , debonaire , of good descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. d\'82bonnaire debonair; de of (L. de ) + bon good (L. bonus ) + aire . See Air , and Bounty , and cf. Bonair .] Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; of good appearance and manners; graceful; complaisant.

Was never prince so meek and debonair . Spenser.

Debonairity <Xpage=374>

Deb`o*nair"i*ty (?) , n. [OF. debonairet\'82 , F. d\'82bonnairet\'82 .] Debonairness. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Debonairly <Xpage=374>

Deb`o*nair"ly , adv. Courteously; elegantly.

Debonairness <Xpage=374>

Deb`o*nair"ness , n. The quality of being debonair; good humor; gentleness; courtesy.

Sterne.

Debosh <Xpage=374>

De*bosh" (?) , v. t. [Old form of debauch .] To debauch. [Obs.] "A deboshed lady."

Beau. & Fl.

Deboshment <Xpage=374>

De*bosh"ment (?) , n. Debauchment. [Obs.]

Debouch <Xpage=374>

De*bouch" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Debouched (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Debouching .] [F. d\'82boucher ; pref. d\'82- (L. dis- or de ) + boucher to stop up, fr. bouche mouth, fr. L. bucca the cheek. Cf. Disembogue .] To march out from a wood, defile, or other confined spot, into open ground; to issue.

Battalions debouching on the plain. Prescott.

D\'82bouch\'82 <Xpage=374>

D\'82`bou`ch\'82" (?) , n. [F.] A place for exit; an outlet; hence, a market for goods.

The d\'82bouch\'82s were ordered widened to afford easy egress. The Century.

D\'82bouchure <Xpage=374>

D\'82`bou`chure" (?) , n. [F.] The outward opening of a river, of a valley, or of a strait.

D\'82bris <Xpage=374>

D\'82`bris" (?) , n. [F., fr. pref. d\'82- (L. dis ) + briser to break, shatter; perh. of Celtic origin.]

1. (Geol.) Broken and detached fragments, taken collectively; especially, fragments detached from a rock or mountain, and piled up at the base.

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

Debruised <Xpage=374>

De*bruised" (?) , a. [Cf. OF. debruisier to shatter, break. Cf. Bruise .] (Her.) Surmounted by an ordinary; as, a lion is debruised when a bend or other ordinary is placed over it, as in the cut .

The lion of England and the lilies of France without the baton sinister, under which, according to the laws of heraldry, they where debruised in token of his illegitimate birth. Macaulay.

Debt <Xpage=374>