Chapter 12

Milton.

Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring.

Pope.

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, 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 deep.

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.

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.

Deep"en, v. i. 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` (?), a. Deeply fetched or drawn. [Obs.] "Deep-fet groans." Shak.

Deep"-laid` (?), a. Laid deeply; formed with cunning and sagacity; as, deep-laid plans.

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` (?), a. Having a loud and sonorous voice. "Deep-mouthed dogs." Dryden.

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` (?), a. Profoundly book- learned. "Great writers and deep-read men." L'Estrange.

Deep"-sea` (?), a. 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"-waist`ed (?), a. (Naut.) Having a deep waist, as when, in a ship, the poop and forecastle are much elevated above the deck.

Deer (dr), n. sing. & pl. [OE. der, deor, animal, wild animal, AS. deór; akin to D. dier, OFries. diar, G. thier, tier, Icel. dr, Dan. dyr, Sw. djur, Goth. dius; of unknown origin. √71.] 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.) 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.

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.

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.

Deer"ber`ry (?), n. (Bot.) A shrub of the blueberry group (Vaccinium stamineum); also, its bitter, greenish white berry; -- called also squaw huckleberry.

Deer"grass` (?), n. (Bot.) 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.

Deer"hound` (?), n. (Zoöl.) One of a large and fleet breed of hounds used in hunting deer; a staghound.

Deer"let (?), n. [Deer + - let.] (Zoöl.) A chevrotain. See Kanchil, and Napu.

Deer"-neck` (?), n. A deerlike, or thin, ill-formed neck, as of a horse.

Deer"skin` (?), n. The skin of a deer, or the leather which is made from it. Hakluyt. Longfellow.

Deer"stalk`er (?), n. One who practices deerstalking.

Deer"stalk`ing, n. The hunting of deer on foot, by stealing upon them unawares.

Deer's"-tongue` (?), n. (Bot.) A plant (Liatris odoratissima) whose fleshy leaves give out a fragrance compared to vanilla. Wood.

Dees (?), n. pl. Dice. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Dees, n. A dais. [Obs.] Chaucer.

||De*e"sis (d*"ss), n. [NL., fr. Gr. de`hsis supplication.] (Rhet.) An invocation of, or address to, the Supreme Being.

De"ess (d"s), n. [F. déesse, fem. of dieu god.] A goddess. [Obs.] Croft.

||Deev (?), n. (Hind. & Pers. Myth.) See Dev.

De*face" (d*fs"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defaced (-fst"); p. pr. & vb. n. Defacing.] [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. [Cf. F. défaire.] 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.

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.

De*fa"cer (?), n. One who, or that which, defaces or disfigures.

||De` fac"to (?). [L.] Actually; in fact; in reality; as, a king de facto, -- distinguished from a king de jure, or by right.

De*fail" (?), v. t. [F. défaillir to fail; pref. dé- (L. de) + faillir. See Fail, and cf. Default.] To cause to fail. [Obs.]

De*fail"ance (?), n. [F. défaillance.] Failure; miscarriage. [Obs.]

Possibility of defailance in degree or continuance.

Comber.

De*fail"ure (?), n. Failure. [Obs.] Barrow.

De*fal"cate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defalcated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defalcating.] [LL. defalcatus, p. p. of defalcare to deduct, orig., to cut off with a sickle; L. de- + falx, falcis, a sickle. See Falchion.] 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 them [the estimates].

Burke.

De*fal"cate, v. i. To commit defalcation; to embezzle money held in trust. "Some partner defalcating, or the like." Carlyle.

De`fal*ca"tion (?), n. [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 having it in trust; an embezzlement.

Def"al*ca`tor (?), n. A defaulter or embezzler. [Modern]

De*falk" (?), v. t. [F. défalquer. See Defalcate.] To lop off; to abate. [Obs.] B. Jonson.

Def`a*ma"tion (?), n. [OE. diffamacioun, F. diffamation. See Defame.] 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.

In modern usage, written defamation bears the title of libel, and oral defamation that of slander. Burrill.

De*fam"a*to*ry (?), a. Containing defamation; injurious to reputation; calumnious; slanderous; as, defamatory words; defamatory writings.

De*fame" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defamed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defaming.] [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.

De*fame", n. Dishonor. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*fam"er (?), n. One who defames; a slanderer; a detractor; a calumniator.

De*fam"ing*ly, adv. In a defamatory manner.

Def"a*mous (?), a. Defamatory. [Obs.]

De*fat"i*ga*ble (?), a. [See Defatigate.] Capable of being wearied or tired out. [R.] Glanvill.

De*fat"i*gate (?), v. t. [L. defatigatus, p. p. of defatigare; de- + fatigare to weary. See Fatigue.] To weary or tire out; to fatigue. [R.] Sir T. Herbert.

De*fat`i*ga"tion (?), n. [L. defatigatio.] Weariness; fatigue. [R.] Bacon.

De*fault" (?), n. [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 what duty or law requires; as, 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) 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.

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.

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) 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.

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.

De*fea"sance (?), n. [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) 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.

<! p. 381 !>

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.

De*fea"sanced (?), a. (Law) Liable to defeasance; capable of being made void or forfeited.

De*fea"si*ble (?), a. [See Defeasance.] Capable of being annulled or made void; as, a defeasible title. -- De*fea"si*ble*ness, n.

De*feat" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defeated; p. pr. & vb. n. Defeating.] [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.

De*feat", n. [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.

De*fea"ture (?; 135), n. [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.

De*fea"tured (?; 135), p. p. Changed in features; deformed. [R.]

Features when defeatured in the . . . way I have described.

De Quincey.

Def"e*cate (?), a. [L. defaecatus, p. p. of defaecare to defecate; de- + faex, faecis, dregs, lees.] Freed from anything that can pollute, as dregs, lees, etc.; refined; purified.

Till the soul be defecate from the dregs of sense.

Bates.

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.

Def"e*cate (?), v. i. 1. To become clear, pure, or free. Goldsmith.

2. To void excrement.

Def`e*ca"tion (?), n. [L. defaecatio: cf. F. défécation.] 1. The act of separating from impurities, as lees or dregs; purification.

2. (Physiol.) The act or process of voiding excrement.

Def"e*ca`tor (?), n. That which cleanses or purifies; esp., an apparatus for removing the feculencies of juices and sirups. Knight.

De*fect" (?), n. [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 -- and every foe.

Pope.

Among boys little tenderness is shown to personal defects.

Macaulay.

Syn. -- Deficiency; imperfection; blemish. See Fault.

De*fect", v. i. To fail; to become deficient. [Obs.] "Defected honor." Warner.

De*fect", v. t. To injure; to damage. "None can my life defect." [R.] Troubles of Q. Elizabeth (1639).

De*fect`i*bil"i*ty (?), n. Deficiency; imperfection. [R.] Ld. Digby. Jer. Taylor.

De*fect"i*ble (?), a. Liable to defect; imperfect. [R.] "A defectible understanding." Jer. Taylor.

De*fec"tion (?), n. [L. defectio: cf. F. défection. See Defect.] 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.

De*fec"tion*ist, n. One who advocates or encourages defection.

De*fec"tious (?), a. Having defects; imperfect. [Obs.] "Some one defectious piece." Sir P. Sidney.

De*fect"ive (?), a. [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.) 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.

De*fec`tu*os"i*ty (?; 135), n. [Cf. F. défectuosité.] Great imperfection. [Obs.] W. Montagu.

De*fec"tu*ous (?), a. [Cf. F. défectueux.] Full of defects; imperfect. [Obs.] Barrow.

Def`e*da"tion (?), n. [L. defoedare, defoedatum, to defile; de- + foedare to foul, foedus foul.] The act of making foul; pollution. [Obs.]

De*fence" (d*fns"), n. & v. t. See Defense.

De*fend" (d*fnd"), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defended; p. pr. & vb. n. Defending.] [F. défendre, L. defendere; de- + fendere (only in comp.) to strike; perh. akin to Gr. qei`nein to strike, and E. 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.) 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.

De*fend"a*ble (d*fnd"*b'l), a. [Cf. F. défendable.] Capable of being defended; defensible. [R.]

De*fend"ant (aant), a. [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.

De*fend"ant, n. 1. One who defends; a defender.

The rampiers and ditches which the defendants had cast up.

Spotswood.

2. (Law) A person required to make answer in an action or suit; -- opposed to plaintiff. Abbott.

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.

De`fen*dee" (d`fn*d" or d*fnd"`), n. One who is defended. [R. & Ludicrous]

De*fend"er (d*fnd"r), n. [Cf. Fender.] 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.

De*fend"ress (?), n. A female defender. [R.]

Defendress of the faith.

Stow.

De*fen"sa*tive (?), n. [L. defensare, defensatum, to defend diligently, intens. of defendere. See Defend.] That which serves to protect or defend.

{ De*fense", De*fence" } (?), n. [F. défense, OF. defense, fem., defens, masc., fr. L. defensa (cf. LL. defensum), from defendere. See Defend, and 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) 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.

De*fense", v. t. To furnish with defenses; to fortify. [Obs.] [Written also defence.]

Better manned and more strongly defensed.

Hales.

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

De*fens"er (?), n. [Cf. F. défenseur, L. defensor. Cf. Defensor.] Defender. [Obs.] Foxe.

De*fen`si*bil"i*ty (?), n. Capability of being defended.

De*fen"si*ble (?), a. [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.

De*fen"si*ble*ness (?), n. Capability of being defended; defensibility. Priestley.

De*fen"sive (?), a. [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.

De*fen"sive, n. That which defends; a safeguard.

Wars preventive, upon just fears, are true defensives.

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.

De*fen"sive*ly, adv. On the defensive.

De*fen"sor (?), n. [L. See Defenser.] 1. A defender. Fabyan.

2. (Law) A defender or an advocate in court; a guardian or protector.

3. (Eccl.) The patron of a church; an officer having charge of the temporal affairs of a church.

De*fen"so*ry (?), a. [L. defensorius.] Tending to defend; defensive; as, defensory preparations.