The Gutenberg Webster's Unabridged Dictionary

Chapter 400

Chapter 4002,621 wordsPublic domain

De*cri"er (?) , n. One who decries.

Decrown <Xpage=379>

De*crown" (?) , v. t. To deprive of a crown; to discrown. [R.]

Hakewill.

Decrustation <Xpage=379>

De`crus*ta"tion (?) , n. [Cf. OF. d\'82crustation .] The removal of a crust.

Decry <Xpage=379>

De*cry" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decried (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying .] [F. d\'82crier , OF. descrier ; pref. des- (L. dis- ) + crier to cry. See Cry , and cf. Descry .] To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage.

For small errors they whole plays decry . Dryden.

Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other. Addison.

Syn. -- To Decry , Depreciate , Detract , Disparage . Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs it.

Decubation <Xpage=379>

Dec`u*ba"tion (?) , n. [From L. decubare ; de- + cubare . See Decumbent .] Act of lying down; decumbence. [Obs.]

Evelyn.

Decubitus <Xpage=379>

De*cu"bi*tus (?) , n. [NL., fr. L. de- + cubare , to lie down: cf. F. d\'82cubitus .] (Med.) An attitude assumed in lying down; as, the dorsal decubitus .

Decuman <Xpage=379>

Dec"u*man (?) , a. [L. decumanus of the tenth, and by metonymy, large, fr. decem ten.] Large; chief; -- applied to an extraordinary billow, supposed by some to be every tenth in order. [R.] Also used substantively. "Such decuman billows." Gauden . "The baffled decuman ."

Lowell.

Decumbence, Decumbency <Xpage=379>

De*cum"bence (?) , De*cum"ben*cy (?) , n. The act or posture of lying down.

The ancient manner of decumbency . Sir T. Browne.

Decumbent <Xpage=379>

De*cum"bent (?) , a. [L. decumbens , -entis , p. pr. of decumbere ; de- + cumbere (only in comp.), cubare to lie down.]

1. Lying down; prostrate; recumbent.

The decumbent portraiture of a woman. Ashmole.

2. (Bot.) Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending to rise at the summit or apex; as, a decumbent stem .

Gray.

Decumbently <Xpage=379>

De*cum"bent*ly , adv. In a decumbent posture.

Decumbiture <Xpage=379>

De*cum"bi*ture (?; 135) , n.

1. Confinement to a sick bed, or time of taking to one's bed from sickness.

Boyle.

2. (Astrol.) Aspect of the heavens at the time of taking to one's sick bed, by which the prognostics of recovery or death were made.

Decuple <Xpage=379>

Dec"u*ple (?) , a. [F. d\'82cuple , L. decuplus , fr. decem ten.] Tenfold. [R.]

Decuple <Xpage=379>

Dec"u*ple , n. A number ten times repeated. [R.]

Decuple <Xpage=379>

Dec"u*ple , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decupled (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decupling (?) .] To make tenfold; to multiply by ten. [R.]

Decurion <Xpage=379>

De*cu"ri*on (?) , n. [L. decurio , decurionis , fr. decuria a squad of ten, fr. decem ten.] (Rom. Antiq.) A head or chief over ten; especially, an officer who commanded a division of ten soldiers.

Decurionate <Xpage=379>

De*cu"ri*on*ate (?) , n. [L. decurionatus , fr. decurio .] The office of a decurion.

Decurrence <Xpage=379>

De*cur"rence (?) , n. The act of running down; a lapse. [R.]

Gauden.

Decurrent <Xpage=379>

De*cur"rent (?) , a. [L. decurrens , -entis , p. pr. of decurrere to run down; de- + currere to run: cf. F. d\'82current .] (Bot.) Extending downward; -- said of a leaf whose base extends downward and forms a wing along the stem. -- De*cur"rent*ly , adv.

Decursion <Xpage=379>

De*cur"sion (?) , n. [L. decursio , fr. decurrere . See Decurrent .] A flowing; also, a hostile incursion. [Obs.]

Sir M. Hale.

Decursive <Xpage=379>

De*cur"sive (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82cursif . See Decurrent .] Running down; decurrent.

Decursively <Xpage=379>

De*cur"sive*ly , adv. In a decursive manner.

Decursively pinnate (Bot.) , having the leaflets decurrent, or running along the petiole; -- said of a leaf.

Decurt <Xpage=379>

De*curt" (?) , v. t. [L. decurtare ; de- + curtare .] To cut short; to curtail. [Obs.]

Bale.

Decurtation <Xpage=379>

De`cur*ta"tion (?) , n. [L. decurtatio .] Act of cutting short. [Obs.]

Decury <Xpage=379>

Dec"u*ry (?) , n. ; pl. Decuries (#) . [L. decuria , fr. decem ten.] A set or squad of ten men under a decurion.

Sir W. Raleigh.

Decussate <Xpage=379>

De*cus"sate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Decussated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Decussating .] [L. decussatus , p. p. of decussare to cross like an X, fr. decussis (orig. equiv. to decem asses ) the number ten, which the Romans represented by X.] To cross at an acute angle; to cut or divide in the form of X; to intersect; -- said of lines in geometrical figures, rays of light, nerves, etc.

Decussate, Decussated <Xpage=379>

De*cus"sate (?) , De*cus"sa*ted (?) , a.

1. Crossed; intersected.

2. (Bot.) Growing in pairs, each of which is at right angles to the next pair above or below; as, decussated leaves or branches .

3. (Rhet.) Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in alternate opposition to each other; as, a decussated period .

Decussately <Xpage=379>

De*cus"sate*ly (?) , adv. In a decussate manner.

Decussation <Xpage=379>

De`cus*sa"tion (?) , n. [L. decussatio .] Act of crossing at an acute angle, or state of being thus crossed; an intersection in the form of an X; as, the decussation of lines, nerves, etc.

Decussative <Xpage=379>

De*cus"sa*tive (?) , a. Intersecting at acute angles.

Sir T. Browne.

Decussatively <Xpage=379>

De*cus"sa*tive*ly , adv. Crosswise; in the form of an X. "Anointed decussatively ."

Sir T. Browne.

Decyl <Xpage=379>

De"cyl (?) , n. [L. decem ten + -yl .] (Chem.) A hydrocarbon radical, C10H21 , never existing alone, but regarded as the characteristic constituent of a number of compounds of the paraffin series.

Decylic <Xpage=379>

De*cyl"ic (?) , a. (Chem.) Allied to, or containing, the radical decyl.

Dedalian <Xpage=379>

De*dal"ian (?) , a. See D\'91dalian .

Dedalous <Xpage=379>

Ded"a*lous (?) , a. See D\'91dalous .

Dedans <Xpage=379>

De*dans" (?) , n. [F.] (Court Tennis) A division, at one end of a tennis court, for spectators.

Dede <Xpage=379>

Dede (?) , a. Dead. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Dedecorate <Xpage=379>

De*dec"o*rate (?) , v. t. [L. dedecoratus , p. p. of dedecorare to disgrace. See Decorate .] To bring to shame; to disgrace. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Dedecoration <Xpage=379>

De*dec`o*ra"tion (?) , n. [L. dedecoratio .] Disgrace; dishonor. [Obs.]

Bailey.

Dedecorous <Xpage=379>

De*dec"o*rous (?) , a. [L. dedecorus . See Decorous .] Disgraceful; unbecoming. [R.]

Bailey.

Dedentition <Xpage=379>

De`den*ti"tion (?) , n. The shedding of teeth. [R.]

Sir T. Browne.

Dedicate <Xpage=379>

Ded"i*cate (?) , p. a. [L. dedicatus , p. p. of dedicare to affirm, to dedicate; de- + dicare to declare, dedicate; akin to dicere to say. See Diction .] Dedicated; set apart; devoted; consecrated. " Dedicate to nothing temporal."

Shak.

Syn. -- Devoted; consecrated; addicted.

Dedicate <Xpage=379>

Ded"i*cate (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Dedicated ; p. pr. & vb. n. Dedicating .]

1. To set apart and consecrate, as to a divinity, or for sacred uses; to devote formally and solemnly; as, to dedicate vessels, treasures, a temple, or a church, to a religious use .

Vessels of silver, and vessels of gold, . . . which also king David did dedicate unto the Lord. 2 Sam. viii. 10, 11.

We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. . . . But in a larger sense we can not dedicate , we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. A. Lincoln.

2. To devote, set apart, or give up, as one's self, to a duty or service.

The profession of a soldier, to which he had dedicated himself. Clarendon.

3. To inscribe or address, as to a patron.

He complied ten elegant books, and dedicated them to the Lord Burghley. Peacham.

Syn. -- See Addict .

Dedicatee <Xpage=379>

Ded`i*ca*tee" (?) , n. One to whom a thing is dedicated; -- correlative to dedicator .

Dedication <Xpage=379>

Ded`i*ca"tion (?) , n. [L. dedicatio .]

1. The act of setting apart or consecrating to a divine Being, or to a sacred use, often with religious solemnities; solemn appropriation; as, the dedication of Solomon's temple .

2. A devoting or setting aside for any particular purpose; as, a dedication of lands to public use .

3. An address to a patron or friend, prefixed to a book, testifying respect, and often recommending the work to his special protection and favor.

Dedicator <Xpage=379>

Ded"i*ca`tor (?) , n. [L.: cf. F. d\'82dicateur .] One who dedicates; more especially, one who inscribes a book to the favor of a patron, or to one whom he desires to compliment.

Dedicatorial <Xpage=379>

Ded`i*ca*to"ri*al (?) , a. Dedicatory.

Dedicatory <Xpage=379>

Ded"i*ca*to*ry (?) , a. [Cf. F. d\'82dicatoire .] Constituting or serving as a dedication; complimental. "An epistle dedicatory ."

Dryden.

Dedicatory <Xpage=379>

Ded"i*ca*to*ry , n. Dedication. [R.]

Milton.

Dedimus <Xpage=379>

Ded"i*mus (?) , n. [L. dedimus we have given, fr. dare to give. So called because the writ began, Dedimus potestatem , etc.] (Law) A writ to commission private persons to do some act in place of a judge, as to examine a witness, etc.

Bouvier.

Dedition <Xpage=379>

De*di"tion (?) , n. [L. deditio , fr. dedere to give away, surrender; de- + dare to give.] The act of yielding; surrender. [R.]

Sir M. Hale.

Dedolent <Xpage=379>

Ded"o*lent (?) , a. [L. dedolens , p. pr. of dedolere to give over grieving; de- + dolere to grieve.] Feeling no compunction; apathetic. [R.]

Hallywell.

Deduce <Xpage=379>

De*duce" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deduced (?) ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducing .] [L. deducere ; de- + ducere to lead, draw. See Duke , and cf. Deduct .]

1. To lead forth. [A Latinism]

He should hither deduce a colony. Selden.

2. To take away; to deduct; to subtract; as, to deduce a part from the whole . [Obs.]

B. Jonson.

3. To derive or draw; to derive by logical process; to obtain or arrive at as the result of reasoning; to gather, as a truth or opinion, from what precedes or from premises; to infer; -- with from or out of .

O goddess, say, shall I deduce my rhymes From the dire nation in its early times? Pope.

Reasoning is nothing but the faculty of deducing unknown truths from principles already known. Locke.

See what regard will be paid to the pedigree which deduces your descent from kings and conquerors. Sir W. Scott.

Deducement <Xpage=379>

De*duce"ment (?) , n. Inference; deduction; thing deduced. [R.]

Dryden.

Deducibility <Xpage=379>

De*du`ci*bil"i*ty (?) , n. Deducibleness.

Deducible <Xpage=379>

De*du"ci*ble (?) , a.

1. Capable of being deduced or inferred; derivable by reasoning, as a result or consequence.

All properties of a triangle depend on, and are deducible from, the complex idea of three lines including a space. Locke.

2. Capable of being brought down. [Obs.]

As if God [were] deducible to human imbecility. State Trials (1649).

Deducibleness <Xpage=379>

De*du"ci*ble*ness , n. The quality of being deducible; deducibility.

Deducibly <Xpage=379>

De*du"ci*bly (?) , adv. By deduction.

Deducive <Xpage=379>

De*du"cive (?) , a. That deduces; inferential.

Deduct <Xpage=379>

De*duct" (?) , v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Deducted ; p. pr. & vb. n. Deducting .] [L. deductus , p. p. of deducere to deduct. See Deduce .]

1. To lead forth or out. [Obs.]

A people deducted out of the city of Philippos. Udall.

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 <Xpage=379>

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 <Xpage=379>

De*duc"tion (?) , n. [L. deductio : cf. F. d\'82duction .]

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 <Xpage=379>

De*duct"ive (?) , a. [Cf. L. deductivus derivative.] 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 <Xpage=379>

De*duct"ive*ly , adv. By deduction; by way of inference; by consequence.

Sir T. Browne.

Deductor <Xpage=379>

De*duc"tor (?) , n. [L., a guide. See Deduce .] (Zo\'94l.) The pilot whale or blackfish.

Deduit <Xpage=379>

De*duit" (?) , n. [F. d\'82duit . Cf. Deduct .] Delight; pleasure. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Deduplication <Xpage=379>

De*du`pli*ca"tion (?) , n. [Pref. de- + duplication .] (Biol.) 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 <Xpage=379>

Deed (?) , a. Dead. [Obs.]

Chaucer.

Deed <Xpage=379>

Deed , n. [AS. d<?/d ; akin to OS. d\'bed , D. & Dan. daad , G. thai , Sw. d\'86d , Goth. d<?/ds ; 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) A sealed instrument in writing, on paper or parchment, duly executed and delivered, containing some transfer, bargain, or contract.

&hand; 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 <Xpage=379>

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

Deedful <Xpage=379>

Deed"ful (?) , a. Full of deeds or exploits; active; stirring. [R.] "A deedful life."

Tennyson.

Deedless <Xpage=379>

Deed"less , a. Not performing, or not having performed, deeds or exploits; inactive.