Chapter 395

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

1. That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another, or to perform for his benefit; thing owed; obligation; liability.

Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt . Shak.

When you run in debt , you give to another power over your liberty. Franklin.

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

Matt. vi. 12.

3. (Law) An action at law to recover a certain specified sum of money alleged to be due.

Burrill.

Bond debt , Book debt , etc. See under Bond , Book , etc. -- Debt of nature , death.

Debted <Xpage=374>

Debt"ed , p. a. Indebted; obliged to. [R.]

I stand debted to this gentleman. Shak.

Debtee <Xpage=374>

Debt*ee" (?) , n. (Law) One to whom a debt is due; creditor; -- correlative to debtor .

Blackstone.

Debtless <Xpage=374>

Debt"less (?) , a. Free from debt.

Chaucer.

Debtor <Xpage=374>

Debt"or (?) , n. [OE. dettur , dettour , OF. detor , detur , detour , F. d\'82biteur , fr. L. debitor , fr. debere to owe. See Debt .] One who owes a debt; one who is indebted; -- correlative to creditor .

[I 'll] bring your latter hazard back again, And thankfully rest debtor for the first. Shak.

In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to his creditor. Mitford.

Debtors for our lives to you. Tennyson.

Debulliate <Xpage=374>

De*bul"li*ate (?) , v. i. [Pref. d\'82- + L. bullire to boil.] To boil over. [Obs.]

Debulition <Xpage=374>

Deb`u*li"tion (?) , n. [See Debulliate .] A bubbling or boiling over. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Deburse <Xpage=374>

De*burse" (?) , v. t. & i. [Pref. de + L. bursa purse.] To disburse. [Obs.]

Ludlow.

Debuscope <Xpage=374>

De"bu*scope (?) , n. [From the inventor, Debus , a French optician + -scope .] (Opt.) A modification of the kaleidoscope; -- used to reflect images so as to form beautiful designs.

D\'82but <Xpage=374>

D\'82`but" (?) , n. [F. d\'82but , prop., the first cast or throw at play, fr. but aim, mark. See Butt an end.] A beginning or first attempt; hence, a first appearance before the public, as of an actor or public speaker.

D\'82butant, n.; fem. D\'82butante <Xpage=374>

D\'82`bu`tant" (?) , n. ; fem. D\'82`bu`tante" (<?/) . [F., p. pr. of d\'82buter to have the first throw, to make one's d\'82but . See D\'82but .] A person who makes his (or her) first appearance before the public.

Deca- <Xpage=374>

Dec"a- (?) . [Cf. Ten .] A prefix, from Gr. de`ka , signifying ten ; specifically (Metric System) , a prefix signifying the weight or measure that is ten times the principal unit.

Decacerata <Xpage=374>

De*cac`e*ra"ta (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. de`ka ten + ke`ras a horn.] (Zo\'94l.) The division of Cephalopoda which includes the squids, cuttlefishes, and others having ten arms or tentacles; -- called also Decapoda . [Written also Decacera .] See Dibranchiata .

Decachord, Decachordon <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*chord (?) , Dec`a*chor"don (?) , n. [Gr. deka`chordos tenstringed; de`ka ten + chordj` a string.]

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

2. Something consisting of ten parts.

W. Watson.

Decucuminated <Xpage=374>

Dec`u*cu"mi*na`ted (?) , a. [L. decacuminare to cut off the top. See Cacuminate .] Having the point or top cut off. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Decad <Xpage=374>

Dec"ad (?) , n. A decade.

Averill was a decad and a half his elder. Tennyson.

Decadal <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*dal (?) , a. Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.

Decade <Xpage=374>

Dec"ade (?) , n. [F. d\'82cade , L. decas , -adis , fr. Gr. <?/, fr. <?/ ten. See Ten .] A group or division of ten; esp., a period of ten years; a decennium; as, a decade of years or days; a decade of soldiers; the second decade of Livy. [Written also decad .]

During this notable decade of years. Gladstone.

Decadence, Decadency <Xpage=374>

De*ca"dence (?) , De*ca"den*cy (?) , n. [LL. decadentia ; L. de- + cadere to fall: cf. F. d\'82cadence . See Decay .] A falling away; decay; deterioration; declension. "The old castle, where the family lived in their decadence .'

Sir W. Scott.

Decadent <Xpage=374>

De*ca"dent (?) , a. Decaying; deteriorating.

Decadist <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*dist (?) , n. A writer of a book divided into decades; as, Livy was a decadist . [R.]

Decagon <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*gon (?) , n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. <?/ a corner or angle: cf. F. d\'82cagone .] (Geom.) A plane figure having ten sides and ten angles; any figure having ten angles. A regular decagon is one that has all its sides and angles equal.

Decagonal <Xpage=374>

De*cag"o*nal (?) , a. Pertaining to a decagon; having ten sides.

Decagram, Decagramme <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*gram , Dec"a*gramme (?) , n. [F. d\'82cagramme ; Gr. <?/ ten + F. gramme . See Gram .] A weight of the metric system; ten grams, equal to about 154.32 grains avoirdupois.

Decagynia <Xpage=374>

Dec`a*gyn"i*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ ten + <?/ a woman, a female.] (Bot.) A Linn\'91an order of plants characterized by having ten styles.

Decagynian, Deccagynous <Xpage=374>

Dec`a*gyn"i*an (?) , Dec*cag"y*nous (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82cagyne .] (Bot.) Belonging to the Decagynia; having ten styles.

Decahedral <Xpage=374>

Dec`a*he"dral (?) , a. Having ten sides.

Decahedron <Xpage=374>

Dec`a*he"dron (?) , n. ; pl. E. Decahedrons (#) , L. Decahedra (#) . [Pref. deca- + Gr. 'e`dra a seat, a base, fr. 'e`zesthai to sit: cf. F. d\'82ca\'8adre .] (Geom.) A solid figure or body inclosed by ten plane surfaces. [Written also, less correctly, decaedron .]

Decalcification <Xpage=374>

De*cal`ci*fi*ca"tion (?) , n. The removal of calcareous matter.

Decalcify <Xpage=374>

De*cal"ci*fy (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decalcified (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decalcifying .] To deprive of calcareous matter; thus, to decalcify bones is to remove the stony part, and leave only the gelatin.

Decalcomania, Decalcomanie <Xpage=374>

De*cal`co*ma"ni*a (?) , De*cal`co*ma"nie (?) , n. [F. d\'82calcomanie .] The art or process of transferring pictures and designs to china, glass, marble, etc., and permanently fixing them thereto.

Decaliter, Decalitre <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*li`ter , Dec"a*li`tre (?) , n. [F. d\'82calitre ; Gr. <?/ ten + F. litre . See Liter .] A measure of capacity in the metric system; a cubic volume of ten liters, equal to about 610.24 cubic inches, that is, 2.642 wine gallons.

Decalog <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*log (?; 115) , n. Decalogue.

Decalogist <Xpage=374>

De*cal"o*gist (?) , n. One who explains the decalogue.

J. Gregory.

Decalogue <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*logue (?; 115) , n. [F. d\'82calogue , L. decalogus , fr. Gr. <?/; <?/ ten + <?/ speech, <?/ to speak, to say. See Ten .] The Ten Commandments or precepts given by God to Moses on Mount Sinai, and originally written on two tables of stone.

Decameron <Xpage=374>

De*cam"e*ron (?) , n. [It. decamerone , fr. Gr. <?/ ten + <?/ part; though quite generally supposed to be derived from <?/ day: cf. F. d\'82cam\'82ron .] A celebrated collection of tales, supposed to be related in ten days; -- written in the 14th century, by Boccaccio, an Italian.

Decameter, Decametre <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*me`ter , Dec"a*me`tre (?) , n. [F. d\'82cam\'8atre ; Gr. <?/ ten + m\'8atre . See Meter .] A measure of length in the metric system; ten meters, equal to about 393.7 inches.

Decamp <Xpage=374>

De*camp" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Decamped (?; 215) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decamping .] [F. d\'82camper ; pref. d\'82- (L. dis ) + camp camp. See Camp .]

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

Macaulay.

2. Hence, to depart suddenly; to run away; -- generally used disparagingly.

The fathers were ordered to decamp , and the house was once again converted into a tavern. Goldsmith.

Decampment <Xpage=374>

De*camp"ment (?) , n. [Cf. F. d\'82campement .] Departure from a camp; a marching off.

Decanal <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*nal (?; 277) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82canal . See Dean .] Pertaining to a dean or deanery.

His rectorial as well as decanal residence. Churton.

Decanal side , the side of the choir on which the dean's tall is placed. -- Decanal stall , the stall allotted to the dean in the choir, on the right or south side of the chancel.

Shipley.

Decandria <Xpage=374>

De*can"dri*a (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ ten + <?/, <?/, a man.] (Bot.) A Linn\'91an class of plants characterized by having ten stamens.

Decandrian, Decandrous <Xpage=374>

De*can"dri*an (?) , De*can"drous (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82candre .] (Bot.) Belonging to the Decandria; having ten stamens.

Decane <Xpage=374>

Dec"ane (?) , n. [See Deca- .] (Chem.) A liquid hydrocarbon, C10H22 , of the paraffin series, including several isomeric modifications.

Decangular <Xpage=374>

Dec*an"gu*lar (?) , a. [Pref. deca- + angular .] Having ten angles.

Decani <Xpage=374>

De*ca"ni (?) , a. [L., lit., of the dean.] Used of the side of the choir on which the dean's stall is placed; decanal; -- correlative to cantoris ; as, the decanal, or decani , side .

Decant <Xpage=374>

De*cant" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decanted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decanting .] [F. d\'82canter (cf. It. decantare ), prop., to pour off from the edge of a vessel; pref. d\'82- (L. de ) + OF. cant (It. canto ) edge, border, end. See Cant an edge.] To pour off gently, as liquor, so as not to disturb the sediment; or to pour from one vessel into another; as, to decant wine .

Decantate <Xpage=374>

De*can"tate (?) , v. t. To decant. [Obs.]

Decantation <Xpage=374>

De`can*ta"tion (?; 277) , n. [Cf. F. d\'82cantation .] The act of pouring off a clear liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or from one vessel into another.

Decanter <Xpage=374>

De*cant"er (?) , n.

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

2. One who decants liquors.

Decaphyllous <Xpage=374>

De*caph"yl*lous (?) , a. [Pref. deca- + Gr. <?/ leaf: cf. F. d\'82caphylle .] (Bot.) Having ten leaves.

Decapitate <Xpage=374>

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

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

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

Decapitation <Xpage=374>

De*cap`i*ta"tion (?) , n. [LL. decapitatio : cf. F. d\'82capitation .] The act of beheading; beheading.

Decapod <Xpage=374>

Dec"a*pod (?) , n. [Cf. F. d\'82capode .] (Zo\'94l.) A crustacean with ten feet or legs, as a crab; one of the Decapoda. Also used adjectively.

<page="375"> Page 375

Decapoda <Xpage=375>

De*cap"o*da (?) , n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. <?/ ten + <?/, <?/, foot.]

1. (Zo\'94l.) The order of Crustacea which includes the shrimps, lobsters, crabs, etc.

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

2. (Zo\'94l.) A division of the dibranchiate cephalopods including the cuttlefishes and squids. See Decacera .

Deccapodal, Deccapodous <Xpage=375>

Dec*cap"o*dal (?) , Dec*cap"o*dous (?) , a. (Zo\'94l.) Belonging to the decapods; having ten feet; ten-footed.

Decarbonate <Xpage=375>

De*car"bon*ate (?) , v. t. To deprive of carbonic acid.

Decarbonization <Xpage=375>

De*car`bon*i*za"tion (?) , n. The action or process of depriving a substance of carbon.

Decarbonize <Xpage=375>

De*car"bon*ize (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decarbonized (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decarbonizing .] To deprive of carbon; as, to decarbonize steel; to decarbonize the blood.

Decarbonized iron . See Malleable iron . -- Decarbonized steel , homogenous wrought iron made by a steel process, as that of Bessemer; ingot iron.

Decarbonizer <Xpage=375>

De*car"bon*i`zer (?) , n. He who, or that which, decarbonizes a substance.

Decarburization <Xpage=375>

De*car`bu*ri*za"tion (?) , n. The act, process, or result of decarburizing.

Decarbuize <Xpage=375>

De*car"bu*ize (?) , v. t. To deprive of carbon; to remove the carbon from.

Decard <Xpage=375>

De*card" (?) , v. t. To discard. [Obs.]

You have cast those by, decarded them. J. Fletcher.

Decardinalize <Xpage=375>

De*car"di*nal*ize (?) , v. t. To depose from the rank of cardinal.

Decastere <Xpage=375>

Dec"a*stere (?) , n. [L. d\'82cast\'8are ; Gr. <?/ ten + F. st\'8are a stere.] (Metric System) A measure of capacity, equal to ten steres, or ten cubic meters.

Decastich <Xpage=375>

Dec"a*stich (?) , n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. <?/ a row, a line of writing, a verse.] A poem consisting of ten lines.

Decastyle <Xpage=375>

Dec"a*style (?) , a. [Gr. <?/; <?/ ten + <?/ a column.] (Arch.) Having ten columns in front; -- said of a portico, temple, etc. -- n. A portico having ten pillars or columns in front.

Decasyllabic <Xpage=375>

Dec`a*syl*lab"ic (?) , a. [Pref. deca- + syllabic : cf. F. d\'82casyllabique , d\'82casyllable .] Having, or consisting of, ten syllables.

Decatoic <Xpage=375>

Dec`a*to"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.

Decay <Xpage=375>

De*cay" (?) , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Decayed (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying .] [OF. decaeir , dechaer , decheoir , F. d\'82choir , to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance .] To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays ; fortunes decay ; hopes decay .

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay . Goldsmith.

Decay <Xpage=375>

De*cay" , v. t.

1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]

Infirmity, that decays the wise. Shak.

2. To destroy. [Obs.]

Shak.

Decay <Xpage=375>

De*cay" , n.

1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay .

Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more - May strengthen my decays . Herbert.

His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay . Macaulay.

Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. James Byrne.

2. Destruction; death. [Obs.]

Spenser.

3. Cause of decay. [R.]

He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age. Bacon.

Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline .

Decayed <Xpage=375>

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

Decayer <Xpage=375>

De*cay"er (?) , n. A causer of decay. [R.]

Decease <Xpage=375>

De*cease" (?) , n. [OE. deses , deces , F. d\'82c\'8as , fr. L. decessus departure, death, fr. decedere to depart, die; de- + cedere to withdraw. See Cease , Cede .] Departure, especially departure from this life; death.

His decease , which he should accomplish at Jerusalem. Luke ix. 31.

And I, the whilst you mourn for his decease , Will with my mourning plaints your plaint increase. Spenser.

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

Decease <Xpage=375>

De*cease" , v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Deceased (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deceasing .] To depart from this life; to die; to pass away.