Chapter 14

De*fray"al (?), n. The act of defraying; payment; as, the defrayal of necessary costs.

De*fray"er (?), n. One who pays off expenses.

De*fray"ment (?), n. Payment of charges.

Deft (?), a. [OE. daft, deft, becoming, mild, gentle, stupid (cf. OE. daffe, deffe, fool, coward), AS. dæft (in derivatives only) mild, gentle, fitting, seasonable; akin to dafen, gedafen, becoming, fit, Goth. gadaban to be fit. Cf. Daft, Daff, Dapper.] Apt; fit; dexterous; clever; handy; spruce; neat. [Archaic or Poetic] "The deftest way." Shak. "Deftest feats." Gay.

The limping god, so deft at his new ministry.

Dryden.

Let me be deft and debonair.

Byron.

Deft"ly, adv. [Cf. Defly.] Aptly; fitly; dexterously; neatly. "Deftly dancing." Drayton.

Thyself and office deftly show.

Shak.

Deft"ness, n. The quality of being deft. Drayton.

De*funct" (?). a. [L. defunctus, p. p. of defungi to acquit one's self of, to perform, finish, depart, die; de + fungi to perform, discharge: cf. F. défunt. See Function.] Having finished the course of life; dead; deceased. "Defunct organs." Shak.

The boar, defunct, lay tripped up, near.

Byron.

De*funct", n. A dead person; one deceased.

De*func"tion (?), n. [L. defunctio performance, death.] Death. [Obs.]

After defunction of King Pharamond.

Shak.

De*func"tive (?), a. Funereal. [Obs.] "Defunctive music." Shak.

De*fuse" (?), v. t. [Cf. Diffuse.] To disorder; to make shapeless. [Obs.] Shak.

De*fy" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Defied (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Defying.] [F. défier, OF. deffier, desfier, LL. disfidare to disown faith or fidelity, to dissolve the bond of allegiance, as between the vassal and his lord; hence, to challenge, defy; fr. L. dis- + fides faith. See Faith, and cf. Diffident, Affiance.] 1. To renounce or dissolve all bonds of affiance, faith, or obligation with; to reject, refuse, or renounce. [Obs.]

I defy the surety and the bond.

Chaucer.

For thee I have defied my constant mistress.

Beau. & Fl.

2. To provoke to combat or strife; to call out to combat; to challenge; to dare; to brave; to set at defiance; to treat with contempt; as, to defy an enemy; to defy the power of a magistrate; to defy the arguments of an opponent; to defy public opinion.

I once again Defy thee to the trial of mortal fight.

Milton.

I defy the enemies of our constitution to show the contrary.

Burke.

De*fy" (?), n. A challenge. [Obs.] Dryden.

De*gar"nish (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degarnished (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Degarnishing.] [F. dégarnir; pref. dé- , des- (L. dis-) + garnir to furnish. See Garnish, and cf. Disgarnish.] 1. To strip or deprive of entirely, as of furniture, ornaments, etc.; to disgarnish; as, to degarnish a house, etc. [R.]

2. To deprive of a garrison, or of troops necessary for defense; as, to degarnish a city or fort. [R.] Washington.

De*gar"nish*ment (?), n. The act of depriving, as of furniture, apparatus, or a garrison. [R.]

{ De*gen"der (?), De*gen"er (?), } v. i. [See Degenerate.] To degenerate. [Obs.] "Degendering to hate." Spenser.

He degenereth into beastliness.

Joye.

De*gen"er*a*cy (?), n. [From Degenerate, a.] 1. The act of becoming degenerate; a growing worse.

Willful degeneracy from goodness.

Tillotson.

2. The state of having become degenerate; decline in good qualities; deterioration; meanness.

Degeneracy of spirit in a state of slavery.

Addison.

To recover mankind out of their universal corruption and degeneracy.

S. Clarke.

De*gen"er*ate (?), a. [L. degeneratus, p. p. of degenerare to degenerate, cause to degenerate, fr. degener base, degenerate, that departs from its race or kind; de- + genus race, kind. See Kin relationship.] Having become worse than one's kind, or one's former state; having declined in worth; having lost in goodness; deteriorated; degraded; unworthy; base; low.

Faint-hearted and degenerate king.

Shak.

A degenerate and degraded state.

Milton.

Degenerate from their ancient blood.

Swift.

These degenerate days.

Pope.

I had planted thee a noble vine . . . : how then art thou turned into the degenerate plant of a strange vine unto me?

Jer. ii. 21.

De*gen"er*ate (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Degenerated; p. pr. & vb. n. Degenerating.] 1. To be or grow worse than one's kind, or than one was originally; hence, to be inferior; to grow poorer, meaner, or more vicious; to decline in good qualities; to deteriorate.

When wit transgresseth decency, it degenerates into insolence and impiety.

Tillotson.

2. (Biol.) To fall off from the normal quality or the healthy structure of its kind; to become of a lower type.

De*gen"er*ate*ly (?), adv. In a degenerate manner; unworthily.

De*gen"er*ate*ness, n. Degeneracy.

De*gen`er*a"tion (?), n. [Cf. F. dégénération.] 1. The act or state of growing worse, or the state of having become worse; decline; degradation; debasement; degeneracy; deterioration.

Our degeneration and apostasy.

Bates.

2. (Physiol.) That condition of a tissue or an organ in which its vitality has become either diminished or perverted; a substitution of a lower for a higher form of structure; as, fatty degeneration of the liver.

3. (Biol.) A gradual deterioration, from natural causes, of any class of animals or plants or any particular organ or organs; hereditary degradation of type.

4. The thing degenerated. [R.]

Cockle, aracus, . . . and other degenerations.

Sir T. Browne.

Amyloid degeneration, Caseous degeneration, etc. See under Amyloid, Caseous, etc.

De*gen`er*a"tion*ist, n. (Biol.) A believer in the theory of degeneration, or hereditary degradation of type; as, the degenerationists hold that savagery is the result of degeneration from a superior state.

De*gen"er*a*tive (?), a. Undergoing or producing degeneration; tending to degenerate.

De*gen"er*ous (?), a. [L. degener. See Degenerate.] Degenerate; base. [Obs.] "Degenerous passions." Dryden. "Degenerous practices." South.

De*gen"er*ous*ly, adv. Basely. [Obs.]

De*glaz"ing (?), n. The process of giving a dull or ground surface to glass by acid or by mechanical means. Knight.

De*glo"ried (?), a. Deprived of glory; dishonored. [Obs.] "With thorns degloried." G. Fletcher.

De*glu"ti*nate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deglutinated; p. pr. & vb. n. Deglutinating.] [L. deglutinatus, p. p. of deglutinare to deglutinate; de- + glutinare to glue, gluten glue.] To loosen or separate by dissolving the glue which unties; to unglue.

De*glu`ti*na"tion (?), n. The act of ungluing.

Deg`lu*ti"tion (?), n. [L. deglutire to swallow down; de- + glutire to swallow: cf. F. déglutition. See Glut.] The act or process of swallowing food; the power of swallowing.

The muscles employed in the act of deglutition.

Paley.

Deg`lu*ti"tious (?), a. Pertaining to deglutition. [R.]

De*glu"ti*to*ry (?), a. Serving for, or aiding in, deglutition.

Deg`ra*da"tion (?), n. [LL. degradatio, from degradare: cf. F. dégradation. See Degrade.] 1. The act of reducing in rank, character, or reputation, or of abasing; a lowering from one's standing or rank in office or society; diminution; as, the degradation of a peer, a knight, a general, or a bishop.

He saw many removes and degradations in all the other offices of which he had been possessed.

Clarendon.

2. The state of being reduced in rank, character, or reputation; baseness; moral, physical, or intellectual degeneracy; disgrace; abasement; debasement.

The . . . degradation of a needy man of letters.

Macaulay.

Deplorable is the degradation of our nature.

South.

Moments there frequently must be, when a sinner is sensible of the degradation of his state.

Blair.

3. Diminution or reduction of strength, efficacy, or value; degeneration; deterioration.

The development and degradation of the alphabetic forms can be traced.

I. Taylor (The Alphabet).

4. (Geol.) A gradual wearing down or wasting, as of rocks and banks, by the action of water, frost etc.

5. (Biol.) The state or condition of a species or group which exhibits degraded forms; degeneration.

The degradation of the species man is observed in some of its varieties.

Dana.

6. (Physiol.) Arrest of development, or degeneration of any organ, or of the body as a whole.

Degradation of energy, or Dissipation of energy (Physics), the transformation of energy into some form in which it is less available for doing work.

Syn. -- Abasement; debasement; reduction; decline.

De*grade" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Degraded; p. pr. & vb. n. Degrading.] [F. dégrader, LL. degradare, fr. L. de- + gradus step, degree. See Grade, and cf. Degree.] 1. To reduce from a higher to a lower rank or degree; to lower in rank; to deprive of office or dignity; to strip of honors; as, to degrade a nobleman, or a general officer.

Prynne was sentenced by the Star Chamber Court to be degraded from the bar.

Palfrey.

2. To reduce in estimation, character, or reputation; to lessen the value of; to lower the physical, moral, or intellectual character of; to debase; to bring shame or contempt upon; to disgrace; as, vice degrades a man.

O miserable mankind, to what fall Degraded, to what wretched state reserved!

Milton.

Yet time ennobles or degrades each line.

Pope.

Her pride . . . struggled hard against this degrading passion.

Macaulay.

3. (Geol.) To reduce in altitude or magnitude, as hills and mountains; to wear down.

Syn. -- To abase; demean; lower; reduce. See Abase.

De*grade", v. i. (Biol.) To degenerate; to pass from a higher to a lower type of structure; as, a family of plants or animals degrades through this or that genus or group of genera.

De*grad"ed (?), a. 1. Reduced in rank, character, or reputation; debased; sunken; low; base.

The Netherlands . . . were reduced practically to a very degraded condition.

Motley.

2. (Biol.) Having the typical characters or organs in a partially developed condition, or lacking certain parts.

Some families of plants are degraded dicotyledons.

Dana.

3. [Cf. F. degré step.] (Her.) Having steps; -- said of a cross each of whose extremities finishes in steps growing larger as they leave the center; -- termed also on degrees.

De*grade"ment (?), n. Deprivation of rank or office; degradation. [R.] Milton.

De*grad"ing*ly, adv. In a degrading manner.

Deg`ra*va"tion (?), n. [L. degravare, degravatum, to make heavy. See Grave, a.] The act of making heavy. [Obs.] Bailey.

De*gree" (?), n. [F. degré, OF. degret, fr. LL. degradare. See Degrade.] 1. A step, stair, or staircase. [Obs.]

By ladders, or else by degree.

Rom. of R.

2. One of a series of progressive steps upward or downward, in quality, rank, acquirement, and the like; a stage in progression; grade; gradation; as, degrees of vice and virtue; to advance by slow degrees; degree of comparison.

3. The point or step of progression to which a person has arrived; rank or station in life; position. "A dame of high degree." Dryden. "A knight is your degree." Shak. "Lord or lady of high degree." Lowell.

4. Measure of advancement; quality; extent; as, tastes differ in kind as well as in degree.

The degree of excellence which proclaims genius, is different in different times and different places.

Sir. J. Reynolds.

5. Grade or rank to which scholars are admitted by a college or university, in recognition of their attainments; as, the degree of bachelor of arts, master, doctor, etc.

In the United States diplomas are usually given as the evidence of a degree conferred. In the humanities the first degree is that of bachelor of arts (B. A. or A. B.); the second that of master of arts (M. A. or A. M.). The degree of bachelor (of arts, science, divinity, law, etc.) is conferred upon those who complete a prescribed course of undergraduate study. The first degree in medicine is that of doctor of medicine (M. D.). The degrees of master and doctor are sometimes conferred, in course, upon those who have completed certain prescribed postgraduate studies, as doctor of philosophy (Ph. D.); but more frequently the degree of doctor is conferred as a complimentary recognition of eminent services in science or letters, or for public services or distinction (as doctor of laws (LL. D.) or doctor of divinity (D. D.), when they are called honorary degrees.

The youth attained his bachelor's degree, and left the university.

Macaulay.

6. (Genealogy) A certain distance or remove in the line of descent, determining the proximity of blood; one remove in the chain of relationship; as, a relation in the third or fourth degree.

In the 11th century an opinion began to gain ground in Italy, that third cousins might marry, being in the seventh degree according to the civil law.

Hallam.

<! p. 384 !>

7. (Arith.) Three figures taken together in numeration; thus, 140 is one degree, 222,140 two degrees.

8. (Algebra) State as indicated by sum of exponents; more particularly, the degree of a term is indicated by the sum of the exponents of its literal factors; thus, a2b3c is a term of the sixth degree. The degree of a power, or radical, is denoted by its index, that of an equation by the greatest sum of the exponents of the unknown quantities in any term; thus, ax4 + bx2 = c, and mx2y2 + nyx = p, are both equations of the fourth degree.

9. (Trig.) A 360th part of the circumference of a circle, which part is taken as the principal unit of measure for arcs and angles. The degree is divided into 60 minutes and the minute into 60 seconds.

10. A division, space, or interval, marked on a mathematical or other instrument, as on a thermometer. 11. (Mus.) A line or space of the staff.

The short lines and their spaces are added degrees.

Accumulation of degrees. (Eng. Univ.) See under Accumulation. -- By degrees, step by step; by little and little; by moderate advances. "I'll leave it by degrees." Shak. -- Degree of a curve or surface (Geom.), the number which expresses the degree of the equation of the curve or surface in rectilinear coördinates. A straight line will, in general, meet the curve or surface in a number of points equal to the degree of the curve or surface and no more. -- Degree of latitude (Geog.), on the earth, the distance on a meridian between two parallels of latitude whose latitudes differ from each other by one degree. This distance is not the same on different parts of a meridian, on account of the flattened figure of the earth, being 68.702 statute miles at the equator, and 69.396 at the poles. -- Degree of longitude, the distance on a parallel of latitude between two meridians that make an angle of one degree with each other at the poles -- a distance which varies as the cosine of the latitude, being at the equator 69.16 statute miles. -- To a degree, to an extreme; exceedingly; as, mendacious to a degree.

It has been said that Scotsmen . . . are . . . grave to a degree on occasions when races more favored by nature are gladsome to excess.

Prof. Wilson.

||De"gu (?), n. [Native name.] (Zoöl.) A small South American rodent (Octodon Cumingii), of the family Octodontidæ.

De*gust" (?), v. t. [L. degustare: cf. F. déguster. See Gust to taste.] To taste. [Obs.] Cockeram.

Deg`us*ta"tion (?), n. [L. degustatio: cf. F. dégustation.] (Physiol.) Tasting; the appreciation of sapid qualities by the taste organs. Bp. Hall.

De*hisce" (?), v. i. [L. dehiscere; de- + hiscere to gape.] To gape; to open by dehiscence.

De*his"cence (?), n. [Cf. F. déhiscence.] 1. The act of gaping.

2. (Biol.) A gaping or bursting open along a definite line of attachment or suture, without tearing, as in the opening of pods, or the bursting of capsules at maturity so as to emit seeds, etc.; also, the bursting open of follicles, as in the ovaries of animals, for the expulsion of their contents.

De*his"cent (?), a. [L. dehiscens, -entis, p. pr. Cf. F. déhiscent.] Characterized by dehiscence; opening in some definite way, as the capsule of a plant.

De`ho*nes"tate (?), v. t. [L. dehonestatus, p. p. of dehonestare to dishonor; de- + honestare to make honorable. Cf. Dishonest, and see Honest.] To disparage. [Obs.]

De*hon`es*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dehonestatio.] A dishonoring; disgracing. [Obs.] Gauden.

De*horn" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dehorning.] To deprive of horns; to prevent the growth of the horns of (cattle) by burning their ends soon after they start. See Dishorn. "Dehorning cattle." Farm Journal (1886).

||De*hors" (?), prep. [F., outside.] (Law) Out of; without; foreign to; out of the agreement, record, will, or other instrument.

||De*hors", n. (Mil.) All sorts of outworks in general, at a distance from the main works; any advanced works for protection or cover. Farrow.

De*hort" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dehorted; p. pr. & vb. n. Dehorting.] [L. dehortari; de- + hortari to urge, exhort.] To urge to abstain or refrain; to dissuade. [Obs.]

The apostles vehemently dehort us from unbelief.

Bp. Ward.

"Exhort" remains, but dehort, a word whose place neither "dissuade" nor any other exactly supplies, has escaped us.

Trench.

De`hor*ta"tion (?), n. [L. dehortatio.] Dissuasion; advice against something. [R.]

De*hort"a*tive (?), a. Dissuasive. [R.]

De*hort"a*to*ry (?), a. [L. dehortatorius.] Fitted or designed to dehort or dissuade. Bp. Hall.

De*hort"er (?), n. A dissuader; an adviser to the contrary. [Obs.]

De*hu"man*ize (?), v. t. To divest of human qualities, such as pity, tenderness, etc.; as, dehumanizing influences.

De*husk" (?), v. t. To remove the husk from. [Obs.] "Wheat dehusked upon the floor." Drant.

De*hy"drate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of water; to render free from water; as, to dehydrate alcohol.

De`hy*dra"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of freeing from water; also, the condition of a body from which the water has been removed.

De*hy"dro*gen*ate (?), v. t. (Chem.) To deprive of, or free from, hydrogen.

De*hy`dro*gen*a"tion (?), n. (Chem.) The act or process of freeing from hydrogen; also, the condition resulting from the removal of hydrogen.

De"i*cide (?), n. [L. deicida a deicide (in sense 2); deus god + cædere to cut, kill: cf. F. déicide.] 1. The act of killing a being of a divine nature; particularly, the putting to death of Jesus Christ. [R.]

Earth profaned, yet blessed, with deicide.

Prior.

2. One concerned in putting Christ to death.

Deic"tic (?), a. [Gr. deiktiko`s serving to show or point out, fr. deikny`nai to show.] (Logic) Direct; proving directly; -- applied to reasoning, and opposed to elenchtic or refutative.

Deic"tic*al*ly (?), adv. In a manner to show or point out; directly; absolutely; definitely.

When Christ spake it deictically.

Hammond.

{ De*if"ic (?), De*if"ic*al (?), } a. [L. deificus; deus god + facere to make: cf. F. déifique.] Making divine; producing a likeness to God; god-making. "A deifical communion." Homilies.

De`i*fi*ca"tion (?), n. [LL. deificare to deify: cf. F. déification. See Deify.] The act of deifying; exaltation to divine honors; apotheosis; excessive praise.

De"i*fied (?), a. Honored or worshiped as a deity; treated with supreme regard; godlike.

De"i*fi`er (?), n. One who deifies.

De"i*form (?), a. [L. deus a god + -form.] 1. Godlike, or of a godlike form. Dr. H. More.

2. Conformable to the will of God. [R.] Bp. Burnet.

De`i*for"mi*ty (?), n. Likeness to deity. [Obs.]

De"i*fy (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deified (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deifying.] [F. déifier, LL. deificare, fr. L. deificus. See Deific, Deity, -fy.] 1. To make a god of; to exalt to the rank of a deity; to enroll among the deities; to apotheosize; as, Julius Cæsar was deified.

2. To praise or revere as a deity; to treat as an object of supreme regard; as, to deify money.

He did again so extol and deify the pope.

Bacon.

3. To render godlike.

By our own spirits are we deified.

Wordsworth.

Deign (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deigned (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Deigning.] [OE. deinen, deignen, OF. degner, deigner, daigner, F. daigner, fr. L. dignari to deem worthy, deign, fr. dignus worthy; akin to decere to be fitting. See Decent, and cf. Dainty, Dignity, Condign, Disdain.] 1. To esteem worthy; to consider worth notice; - - opposed to disdain. [Obs.]

I fear my Julia would not deign my lines.

Shak.

2. To condescend to give or bestow; to stoop to furnish; to vouchsafe; to allow; to grant.

Nor would we deign him burial of his men.

Shak.

Deign, v. i. To think worthy; to vouchsafe; to condescend; - - followed by an infinitive.

O deign to visit our forsaken seats.

Pope.

Yet not Lord Cranstone deigned she greet.

Sir W. Scott.

Round turned he, as not deigning Those craven ranks to see.

Macaulay.

In early English deign was often used impersonally.

Him deyneth not to set his foot to ground.

Chaucer.

Deign"ous (?), a. [For disdeignous, OF. desdeignos, desdaigneus, F. dédaigneux. See Disdain.] Haughty; disdainful. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Deil (dl), n. Devil; -- spelt also deel. [Scot.]

Deil's buckie. See under Buckie.

||Dei*noc"e*ras (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinoceras.

||Dei*nor"nis (?), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinornis.

||Dei"no*saur (d"n*sr), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinosaur.

||Dei`no*the"ri*um (d`n*th"r*m), n. [NL.] (Paleon.) See Dinotherium.

De*in"te*grate (?), v. t. [L. deintegrare to impair; de- + integrare to make whole.] To disintegrate. [Obs.]

{ Dein"te*ous (?), Dein"te*vous (?) }, a. Rare; excellent; costly. [Obs.] Chaucer.

De*ip"a*rous (d*p"*rs), a. [L. deus a god + parere to bring forth.] Bearing or bringing forth a god; -- said of the Virgin Mary. [Obs.] Bailey.

Deip*nos"o*phist (dp*ns"*fst), n. [Gr. deipnosofisth`s; dei^pnon a meal + sofisth`s a wise man, sophist.] One of an ancient sect of philosophers, who cultivated learned conversation at meals.

De"is (d"s), n. See Dais.

De"ism (d"z'm), n. [L. deus god: cf. F. déisme. See Deity.] The doctrine or creed of a deist; the belief or system of those who acknowledge the existence of one God, but deny revelation.

Deism is the belief in natural religion only, or those truths, in doctrine and practice, which man is to discover by the light of reason, independent of any revelation from God. Hence, deism implies infidelity, or a disbelief in the divine origin of the Scriptures.

De"ist (d"st), n. [L. deus god: cf. F. déiste. See Deity.] One who believes in the existence of a God, but denies revealed religion; a freethinker.

A deist, as denying a revelation, is opposed to a Christian; as, opposed to the denier of a God, whether atheist or pantheist, a deist is generally denominated theist. Latham.

Syn. -- See Infidel.

{ De*is"tic (d*s"tk), De*is"tic*al (?), } a. Pertaining to, savoring of, or consisting in, deism; as, a deistic writer; a deistical book.

The deistical or antichristian scheme.

I. Watts.

De*is"tic*al*ly, adv. After the manner of deists.

De*is"tic*al*ness, n. State of being deistical.

De"i*tate (d"*tt), a. Deified. [Obs.] Cranmer.

De"i*ty (d"*t), n.; pl. Deities (- tz). [OE. deite, F. déité, fr. L. deitas, fr. deus a god; akin to divus divine, Jupiter, gen. Jovis, Jupiter, dies day, Gr. di^os divine, Zey`s, gen. Dio`s, Zeus, Skr. dva divine, as a noun, god, daiva divine, dy sky, day, hence, the sky personified as a god, and to the first syllable of E. Tuesday, Gael. & Ir. dia God, W. duw. Cf. Divine, Journey, Journal, Tuesday.] 1. The collection of attributes which make up the nature of a god; divinity; godhead; as, the deity of the Supreme Being is seen in his works.

They declared with emphasis the perfect deity and the perfect manhood of Christ.

Milman.

2. A god or goddess; a heathen god.

To worship calves, the deities Of Egypt.

Milton.

The Deity, God, the Supreme Being.

This great poet and philosopher [Simonides], the more he contemplated the nature of the Deity, found that he waded but the more out of his depth.

Addison.

De*ject" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dejected; p. pr. & vb. n. Dejecting.] [L. dejectus, p. p. of dejicere to throw down; de- + jacere to throw. See Jet a shooting forth.] 1. To cast down. [Obs. or Archaic]

Christ dejected himself even unto the hells.

Udall.