Debit

[Lat. debitum, from debeo. See DEBT.] ( Com.) A recorded debt; money due for what is sold on credit. ( Book - keeping. ) The left-hand page of a ledger; opposed to credit; as, to enter a payment to a person's debit. -v. a. To charge with a debt; as, to debit a customer with goods bought on credit. ( Book - keeping .) To enter an account on the debtor side of a book or ledger. Deb i tum in i zati on, n. Act or proce of freeing from bitumen. Debituʼminize, v. a. [ De and bitumen.] To remove bitumen from. Déblai, n . [Fr.] ( Fort .) The quantity of earth excavated from the ditch to form the parapet. See REMBLAL. Deblois', in Maine , a post-township of Washington co. Debo, (Lake,) in Central Africa, abt. 140 m. S.W. of Timbuctoo. It is traversed by the Joliba, and has a town of the same naine on its shore. Deborah, (Heb., a bee.] A Hebrew prophete , the wife of Lapidoth, who lived in the time of the Judges IMG:content-0528.jpg:[graphic][subsumed][subsumed] The American Dictionary and Cyclopedia art belonging to a school which had pa ed the period Decardinalize, v. a. To remove from the degree of its highest excellence before they were produced. In Greece, art in all its forms reached its acme in the time Dec'a stitch, n. [Gr. deka , and stichos , a line, a verse.] of Pericles; and though there are many exquisite works which were produced at a later period, they all belong, more or le conspicuously, to the D. of Greek art. In Rome, again, both art and literature culminated in the time of August us, and from that time we have a D. , which soon becomes very obvious and rapid. The school of the Renai ance , again, came to perfection with Raphael; even the Caracci belong to its D .; and the decline was continuous through the rococo of Louis Quinze, till art became almost extinct all over Europe. Deca'dent, a . Deteriorating; falling to pieces; decaying. Dec'agon, n. [Gr. deka , and gonia , an angle.] (Geom.) A figure having ten angles and ten sides. Dec'agram, n. [Fr. décagramme, from Gr. deka , ten, and gramma, a scruple.] A French weight of ten grammes, equal to 154-34 grains troy. Decagyn'ia, n. [Gr. deka , and gyné , a female.] ( Bot . ) A cla of plants in the Linnæan system, including those which have ten pistils. Decagyn'ian, Decag'ynous, a. [Fr. décagy- nique . ( Bot .) Po e ing ten styles. Decahedral, a . Having ten sides. Decahedron, n.; pl . DECAHEDRA, [Gr. deka , and Decalcification,n. Deprivation of calcareous matter. Decal'cify, v. a. To remove, or free of, calcareous matter. Decal'itre, n. [Fr.) A French measure; one of the litres. See LITRE. celebrated Calvin is tic college. Manuf . Tobacco, soap, Decal'ogist, n. An expounder of the Decalogue. pipe-bowls, combs, and furs. In 1684 the city was cap- Dec'alogue, n . [Gr. deka , and logos , treatise.] ( Script .) Debruised', a. ( Her .) A term used to indicate the grievous re- straint of an animal, and its being debarred of its natural freedom by having any of the ordinaries laid over it. Debt, (det,) n. [Lat, debitum , from debeo-de, and habeo , to have or hold.] That which is due from one person to another; that which one person is bound to pay or perform to another; due; obligation; lia- bility. That which any one is Fig . 777.-DEBRUISED. obliged to do or to suffer. IMG:content-0530.jpg:[blocks in formation] Decameron, n. [Gr. deka , ten, and emera , day.] ( Lit. ) The name given by Boccaccio to his celebrated collection of tales; they are supposed to be narrated in turn, during ten days, by a party of guests a embled at a villa in the country to escape from the plague which raged at Florence in 1348. Decametre, n. [Fr., from Gr. deka , and metron , mea- sure.] A French measure of ten metres. See METRE. Decamp', v. n. [Fr. decamper-de, and camp.] To march off; to depart hurriedly; to take one's self away; as, the fellow decamped with all he could lay hands on. Decamp'ment, n. [Fr. décampement.] Departure from a camp; a marching off. Decamps, GABRIEL, ( da - kong ',) a French painter, B. at Paris, in 1803. He was a pupil of Pujol, and dist in- guished himself early by the originality of his produc- tions. Subsequently he paid a visit to the Holy Land, Syria, and Egypt; spending some time in Greece and Constantinople. His best works are, Souvenir de la Turquie, Le Café Turc; Moïse sauvé des eaux; Joseph vendu par ses frères, . D. in consequence of a fall from his horse, 1860. Dec'anal, a. Same as DIACONAL, q . v . Decan'dria, n . [Fr. deka , and andros , a male.] ( Bot . ) A cla of plants in the Linnæan system, including those which have ten stamens. Decan'drian, Decan'drous, a . [Fr. décandrique .] ( Bot . ) Characterized by ten stamens. Decan'gular, a. [ Gr.deka , and Eng. angular .] Hav- ing ten angles. Decant', v. a. [Fr. décanter ; Sp. decantár ; It. cántara , a narrow-mouthed pitcher, from Lat. canthárus ; Gr. kan- thares , a large drinking-ve el with handles; a tankard.] To pour off liquor gently from a ve el; to pour from one ve el into another. Decant a'tion, n. (Chem.) The pouring off a clear liquid from its subsidence or residue; it is often resorted to in the chemical laboratory instead of filtration, the clear supernatant liquor being poured or siphoned off from precipitates, which may thus be repeatedly washed or edulcorated, so as to free them from all soluble mat- ters. Decant'er, n. A ve el used to decant liquors, or for receiving decanted liquors; a ve el, or bottle, used for holding wine or other liquors; as, to pa the decanter around. -The person who decants a fluid from one ve el into an- other. Decaphʼyllous, a. [Gr. deka , and phyllon , a leaf.] ( Bot .) With ten leaves. Decap'itate, v. a . [Lat. dec api to , decapitatum -de , and caput , the head.] To take the head off; to behead; as, to decapitate a criminal. Decapita'tion, n. Act of beheading. Decapodal, Decap'odous, a. Having ten feet, like the lobster. Decap'olis. [Gr. deka , ten, and polis , a city.] A coun- try in Palestine, which contained ten principal cities, on both sides of the Jordan. According to Pliny, they were, Scythopolis, Philadelphia, Raphanæ, Gadara, Hip- pos, Dios, Pella, Gerasa, Canatha, and Damascus. Jo- sephus inserts Otopos instead of Canatha. Decapo'da, Decapods, n . pl . [Gr. deka , and pous , podos , a foot.] ( Zool .) An order of Crustacea, contain- ing those in which we find the highest general organ i zati on. They usually have nine cephalic segments, and but five foot segments, each of the latter bearing a pair of so-called feet. They embrace BRACHYURANS, MA- CRURANS, and GASTRURANS, q. v. Decarbonate, Decarbonize, v . α. To free from carbonic acid; to deprive of carbon. Deca'dence, Decadency, n . [Fr. décadence , from L. Lat. decadent i a , from Lat. de , and cado , cadens , to fall.] Decarbonization, n. Act or proce of depriving Decay; deterioration; decline. Deca'tur, STEPHEN, a distinguished American naval officer, B. in Maryland, 1779. Entering the U. States navy at an early age, he was promoted to a lieutenancy in 1799, and served on the W. India station during the temporary war with France. He subsequently served under Commanders Dale, Morris, and Preble, in the Mediterranean. In 1803, the U. S. ship Philadelphia having been captured by a Tripoli tan cruiser, D. formed a plan for cutting her out from the enemy's harbor; which exploit he succe fully accomplished. He subse- quently shared in the bombardment of Tripoli. 1804, D. received his captain's commi ion, and, upon war with England being declared, in 1812, D. , while commanding the United States , 44 guns, fell in with the British frigate Maced on i an , Capt. Carden. An action en- sued which resulted in the capture of the Maced on i an , which was forthwith taken into New York, as a prize. For this service, D. re- ceived a gold medal. Next year, D. sailed from New York in command of a squadron, and ran through the enemy's blockade; but was almost immediately af- terward blockaded himself in the harbor of New Lon- don. In 1814, his flag was transferred to the Presi- dent , 44 guns, and he again ran the blockade out of New York harbor. This time he was chased by the British frigate Endymion IMG:content-0531.jpg:[graphic] Decatur, in Indiana , a S. E. co.; area , about 372 sq. m. Rivers, Laughery, Clifty and Sand creeks, Surface , slightly undulating. Soil , a rich loam. Min ., lime- stone. Pop . (1897) about 4,000. Cap . Greens burg. -A city, the cap. of Adams co., on St. Mary's river, about 22 m. S. S. E. of Fort Wayne. Pop . (1897) about 3,800. -A township of Marion co. Decatur, in Iowa , a S. co., bordering on Mi ouri; area, about 528 sq.m. Rivers , Weldon, and Crooked Fork of Grand river. Surface , undulating. Soil , fertile. Pop . (1890) 15,643. Cap . Leon. -A post-village and township of Decatur co., about 5 m. W. of Leon. Pop . about 300. Deca'tur, in Kansas , a post-office of Decatur. Deca'tur, in Michigan , a fine town of Van Buren co., 24 m. S.W. of Kalamazoo. Manuf . Iron, leather, flour, staves, sash, . Pop . (1894) 1,336. Deca'tur (or DECATURVILLE), in Mi ouri , a post-village of Cole co., about 50 m. W. of Rolla. Deca'tur, in Nebraska , a post-village of Burt co., on the Mi ouri river, about 60 m. N. of Omaha. Deca'tur, in New York , a post-village and township of Otsego co., about 60 m. W. of Albany. Deca'tur, in North Carolina, a post-village of Polk co. Deca'tur, in Ohio , a post-village of Brown co., about 100 m. S. by E. of Columbus. -A township of Lawrence co. Deca'tur, in Pennsylvania, a township of Clear field co. -A post-township of Mifflin co., about 42 m. N. W. of Harris burg. Deca'tur, in Tenne ee , a W. central co.; Area , about 325 sq. m. Rivers. Tenne ee river, which forms its E. boundary, and Beech River. Soil, fertile. Pop . (1890) 8,995. Surface , generally even. Cap . Decaturville. -A post-village, cap. of Meigs co., about 140 m. E. S. E. of Nashville. Deca'tur, in Texas , a town, the cap. of Wise co., 65 m. W. N. W. of Dallas. Pop . (1897) about 2.100. Deca'tur, in Wisconsin , a village and township of Green county, on Sugar River, about 87 miles W.S.W. of Mil- waukee. "So dies his love, and so my hopes decay." - Pope. To impair; to bring into a diminishing or falling their fellow-citizens. The decemvirate was renewed | Decid'uousne , n. Quality of falling off every year; B. c. 450, when two tables were added, making the Laws want of permanence; aptne to fade and fall away. of the Twelve Tables . The D. were deposed in conse- Dec'igram, n. [Fr. décigramme .] A French weight, quence of the tyranny of Appius Claudius towards Vir- ginia, and the consular government was restored в.с. 449. Decem'viral, a . Pertaining or relating to the Roman decemvirs. Decem'virate, n. [Lat. decemvir at us.] ( Rom . Hist.) Office, or term of office, of the decemvirs. See DECEMVIR. -Any body of ten men holding official authority. De'cency, n . [Fr. décence ; Lat. decentio , from decens . See DECENT.] That which is fit, suitable, seemly, comely, or becoming in words or behavior. - Propriety of form or manner, in social intercourse, in actions, or discourse; decorum; proper formality; becoming ceremony; suit- ablene to character; propriety in speech; modesty. "Want of decency is want of sense." - Earl of Roscommon. Decennalia. ( Rom . Hist .) Festivals which were insti- tuted by the Emperor August us, B. c. 24, in acknowledg- ment of the prosperity of his administration during the preceding 10 years. They were continued by the empe- rors every tenth year of their reign, with games, sacri- fices, and large es to the people. The last was celebrat- ed by Theodosius II. in 411. Decen'nary, n. [Lat. decennis, decennium - decem , and ann us , a year.] A period of ten years. (Feud. Law .) A district originally containing ten men with their families. King Alfred divided England into counties, the counties into hundreds, and the hundreds into tithings or decennaries. Decen'nial, a. [Lat. decenalis.] Continuing for ten years; happening every ten years; consisting of ten years. Decen'nium, n. [Lat.] A period of ten years. Decen'noval, Decen'novary, a . [Lat. decem , and novum, nine.] Relating to the number 19; comprising a period of nineteen years; as, the decennovary progre of the arts. De'cent, a . [Fr.; Lat. decens , from the impers. verb de- cet , it is seemly, comely, or becoming; probably akin to dignus, Gr. deiknumi , to show; root dic .] Becoming; seemly; fit; suitable; comely; decorous; proper; as, a decent appearance.-Not gaudy or ostentatious; modest; free from extravagance or immodesty. - Sufficient; mod- erate; competent; respectable; as, to make a decent livelihood. Decemden'tate, a. [Lat. decem, ten, and dens , dent is, tooth.] With ten teeth. Decem'fid, a. [Lat. decem, and findere , to split.] ( Bot .) Split into ten parts. Decemloc'ular, a . [Lat. decem, and loculus , from locus , place.] ( Bot . ) Having ten cells for seeds. Decem'pedal, a. [Lat. decem , and pes , ped is , a foot.] Of a length of ten feet. Decem'vir, n.; Eng. pl . DECEMVIRS; Lat. pl . DECEM- VIRI. [Lat. decem, and vir , a man.] ( Rom . Hist .) One of the supreme council of ten, appointed at Rome B. с. 451, who compiled the laws of the ten tables the same year, and at first governed so as to win the respect of IMG:content-0532.png:[blocks in formation] Decentralize, v. a. To remove from the centre. Deception, n. [Fr.; Lat. deceptio . See DECEIT.] Act of deceiving, cajoling, or misleading; as, self - deception . -State of being deceived or misled; artifice practised. "Reason... may... fall into deception unawares."- Milton . -Duplicity; guile; fraud; cajolery; imposition; delu- sion; double dealing; as, a person capable of deception . Deception Island, a volcanic island in the Ant- arctic ocean, consisting of layers of ashes and ice. Deceptious, (de-sep's hus), a. Apt to deceive; deceit- ful; as, " deceptious functions." - Shaks . Deceptive, a . [0. Fr. déceptif .] Tending to deceive, or mislead; misleading; deceitful; false; delusive; fal- lacious; as, a deceptive appearance. Deceptive Ca'dence, n . ( Mus .) A cadence in which the final close is avoided by varying the final chord. Deceptively, adv . In a manner calculated to deceive. Deceptivene , n . Tendency or aptitude to deceive. Decep'tory, a. Po e ing powers to deceive. Decerp'tion, n. The act of cropping or plucking off. -That which is cropped or taken off. Decerta'tion, n. Strife or contention for power or supremacy. (R.) Decharm', v. a. To counteract the influence of a charm; to disenchant. "He was suddenly cured by dec harming the witchcraft."- Harvey . Dech'enite, n. ( Min . ) A vanadate of lead and zinc. Sp . gr . 5-6. Dech'erd, in Tenne ee , a post-village of Franklin co., abt. 83 m. S.S.E. of Nashville. De Chien Bayou, in Kentucky , traverses Hickman and Fulton cos., and empties into the Mi i ippi. Dechris'tianize, v . a . [ De and Christianize.] To take away Christian belief from; to prevent the dis- semination of Christianity. Decid'able, a . That may be decided. Decide', v. v. a. [Lat. decido- de , and cædo , to cut.] Το cut short; to terminate; to end; to determine; to settle; to resolve; to fix the event of; as, to decide a wager. -v. n. To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion. Decid'ed, a. That implies decision; determined; fixed in purpose; as, a decided will. - Unequivocal; unques- tion able; not ambiguous; as, a decided inclination to go wrong. -Clear; unmistakable; undeniable; as, decided proof. Decidedly, adv . In a decided or determined manner; clearly; unquestionably; indisputably. Decid'er, n. One who decides or determines anything in question or abeyance, as a contest or quarrel. "Thou grand decider of dusty and old titles." - Beaum. and Fl. Decidu'ity, n. State of being deciduous. (R.) Deciduous, a. [Lat. deciduus , from decido -de, and cado, to fall.] ( Bot . ) Applied to plants whose leaves fall off in the autumn, in contradistinction to evergreens. ( Zool .) Applied to parts which have but a temporary existence, and are shed during the lifetime of the animal, as certain kinds of hair, horns, and teeth. Decill'ion, n. [From Lat. decem.] ( Arith .) A number involved in the tenth power. Decill'ionth, a . Relating or pertaining to a decillion. -n. One of the equal parts of a decillion. Decimal, ( des'e - mal .) a. [Fr. décimal; Lat. decemus, from decem , ten.] Numbered or reckoned by ten; in- creasing or diminishing by ten; as, a decimal fraction; a decimal currency. -n. ( Arith .) Any number expre ed in the scale of tens; -usually applied to a decimal fraction, q. v. Dec'imal Arithmetic, n. The common system of arithmetic, in which the scale of numbers proceeds by tens. Decimal Fraction, n. ( Arith .) A fraction whose denominator is a decimal or power of ten. Thus a decimal fraction. It may be decomposed into the sum 1000 100 -10 + 2+ 200 30 + 100 100 3 4 + 100 4 + 10 100 By an obvious extension of the method of local values, where each digit has ten times the value of the like digit which immediately succeeds it, the above D. F. may clearly be written more concisely in the form 12:34, where the decimal point after the 2 merely serves to indicate which digit represents units . In this abbrevi- ated form a D. F. is termed a decimal . For the purpose of indicating the unit's place, other and le objection- able methods have been proposed. Sir Isaac Newton's method, however, of using a point, placed for distinction near the top of the figures, is the one most commonly employed. The operations of addition, subtraction, mul- tiplication, and division may be applied to decimals in exactly the same manner as to integers; hence their great utility. They present, neverthele , this disad- vantage, that comparatively few fractional quantities or remainders can be exactly expre ed by them; in other words, the greater number of common fractions can not be reduced, as it is called, to D. F. , without leaving a remainder. Common fractions, such as 1-2, 2-3, 1-4, 3-7, 9-25, for instance, can be reduced to D. F. only by mul- tiplying the numerator and denominator of each by such a number as will convert the denominator into 10, or 100, 1000, . (The common proce is merely an abridg- ment of this.) But that is po ible only when the de- nominator divides 10, or 100, without remainder. Thus, of the above denominators, 2 is contained in 10, 5 times; 4 in 100, 25 times; and 25 in 100, 4 times; therefore, 1 1 X 5 5 1 1 × 25 25 5; 2 2×510 X 25 100 = 25; 25 9X4 36 = 36. But neither 3 nor 7 will divide 25 X 4 100 10, or any power of 10; and therefore these numbers cannot produce powers of 10 by multiplication. In such cases we can only approximate to the value of the fraction. Decima'tion, n. [Lat. decimatio.] ( Rom . Hist .) The selection by lot of one man out of every ten, who was put to death as an example to, or in satisfaction for, the rest, in cases of mutiny or failure in military duty. This practice has been occasionally recurred to in mod- ern times. Dec'imator, n. One who decimates; one who selects every tenth man for punishment. Dec'imetre, n . [Fr.] A French measure of length, being the tenth part of a metre, or 3-937 inches. Dec'imi, n. ( Mus . ) An interval of ten diatonic degrees, as from C to E, or the third above the octave, as which it is always treated in harmony. There are only two cases in which it is treated differently from the third: 1st, in double counterpoint, where a nece ary difference must be made, although the same harmonic rules apply; and 2d, in thorough-ba , where figure 9 shall rise a do gree to 10, instead of falling a degree to 8. To read what is obscurely written, or partially obliter- ated; to unfold; to unravel; to explain; to interpret; as, to decipher an ambiguous speech, to decipher a badly written manuscript. - To stamp; to characterize; to mark. (R.) Decipherable, a . That may be deciphered. Decipherer, n. One who reads and explains anything written in cipher. Deci'phere , n. A female expert in deciphering. Decipherment, n . Act or art of deciphering. Decision, (dē-sizh'un,) n. [Lat. decisio . See DECIDE.] A termination; determination of a difference, doubt, or event; final judgment; conclusion; settlement; adjust- ment. Decker, in Indiana , a township of Knox co.; has the Wabash on the west, and White River on the S. E. Decker (formerly DECKER STATION), in Indiana , a post-office of Knox co. Deck' hand, n ( Naut . ) A term given to a sailor who is principally employed on deck, and who has not learned to go aloft. Against bis manners, and corrupt your own."-Ben Jonson. -v. a. To speak or deliver one's self in a set rhetorical manner; to make an oratorical display. Declaim'ant, Declaim'er, n. One who declaims in public; a public speaker; one who attempts to con- vince by haranguing. -A falling or declining towards a worse state; a tendency towards a le degree of excellence or perfection; de terioration; as, the declension of youth. "A perpetual declaimer against jealousy."-Add is on. Declamation, n. [Fr., from Lat. declamatio .] (Rhet.) Among the ancients, D. was the art of speaking indif--Act of courteously declining; declinature. ferently upon both sides of a question. In modern times the meaning of this word is variable in different coun- tries. In Germany, and in most parts of the continent of Europe, it is often used in a sense nearly synonymous with recitation. In France, in England, and in this country, it is sometimes applied to any grand oratorical display, either in the pulpit, at the bar, in the senate, or on the stage. But it is employed most usually in a disparaging sense, to indicate the use of forced emphasis and inflated language, to withdraw the attention of the hearer from the weakne or fallacy of the logic or reason- ing. See ELOQUENCE. Declam'atory, a . [Lat. dec lam at or i us.] Treated in the manner of a rhetorician; relating to the practice of declamation; as, a " declamatory theme." - Wotton . -Appealing to the pa ions; noisy; pretentious; rhetor- ical; without solid sense or argument. Declarable, a . That may be declared or proved; as, goods declarable at the custom-house. "This is declarable from the best writers."- Browne . Declarant, n. One who makes a declaration. (R.) Declaration, n. [Lat. declaratio.] Act of declaring, a erting, or publicly testifying; proclaiming by explicit announcement; as, a declaration of political faith. That which is declared or affirmed to; proclamation; publi- cation; manifestation; affirmation; annunciation; de- cided a ertion; open statement. ( Law . ) A legal specification on record of the cause of action by a plaintiff against a defendant. The D. should correspond with the proce in the names and descrip- tions of the parties; for if there be a material variance, the court will set aside the proceedings. The plaintiff may declare as soon as the defendant has appeared in answer to the writ of summons, or, where the summons is not specially indorsed, on failure of the defendant to make appearance. The D. must state clearly the plaintiff's case in one or more counts, each count gen- erally setting forth a separate cause of action. All ir- relevant matter is struck out at the cost of the plaintiff; and if no appearance is made by the defendant after the D. has been delivered to him or his attorney, the plain- tiff may proceed to claim judgment by default. Declaration of Independence. ( Hist .) A state paper i ued by the Congre of the U. States, in the name and by the authority of the people, on the fourth day of July, 1776, declaring, "that the United Colonies are, and of right ought to be, free and independent States; that they are absolved of all allegiance to the Brit- ish crown, and that all political connection between them and the States of Great Britain is and ought to be di olved." The said act concluded with a pledge by the representatives to each other of their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. Declaration of War. ( Pol .) The public proclama- tion of the government of a State, by which it declares itself to be at war with a foreign power which is named, and which forbids all and every one to aid or a ist the common enemy. The power of declaring war is vested in Congre by the Constitution, Art. 1, s. 8. There is no form or ceremony nece ary except the pa age of the act. Formerly, in Europe, it was usual to precede hostilities by a public declaration communicated to the enemy, and to send a herald to demand satisfaction; but such is not the practice in modern times. Declarative, a. [Fr. déclaratif ; Lat. declarativus .] Explanatory; making show or manifestation; an- Declarator'ily, a . Same as DECLARATIVELY, q. v. Declaratory, a. [Fr. déclara to ire . ] Making declara- tion; free manifestation or exhibition; expository; ex- pre ive; as, a declaratory act. Declare', v . a . [Fr. déclarer ; Lat. declaro-de, and claro- clarus , clear.] To make clear, plain, evident, or manifest; to show clearly, plainly, explicitly, or openly; to make known; to manifest or communicate unmis- takably; to proclaim, announce, or publish. "Declare his glory among the heathen."-1 Chron . xvi. 24. -To a ert; to affirm; to testify; to make declaration of; as, to declare a person to be an impostor. To declare one's self, to make public exposition of one's thoughts, wishes, or opinions. -v.n. To make a declaration; to proclaim or announce clearly some intent, purpose, or resolution; to make known explicitly some intended step or determination; a statement, affirmation, or a ertion; to protest; -gen- erally with for or against. "Will and understanding declaring against them."-Taylor. Declar'edly, adv . Explicitly; openly; avowedly. Declared ne , n. State or condition of being de- clared. from; to lean or bend aside or downwards; to make a lowering of the head. "And with declining head Into his bosom, bid him shed tears." -Shaks. -To lean or deviate from a right line or from rectitude; to swerve; to bend aside; to take an oblique course. To fall; to fail; to deteriorate; to decay; to sink; to droop; to diminish; to change from a better to a worse state; as, declining years. - To refuse; not to comply; to reject; as, to decline a government appointment. IMG:content-0533.png:[blocks in formation] by boiling; as, to decoct a beverage. - To digest by the heat of the stomach; as, to decoct food. - To strengthen or invigorate, as by boiling. Decoct'ible, a. That may be boiled, or prepared by boiling. Decoction, n. [Fr., from Lat. decoctio .] Act of de- cocting; a boiling. (Med.) A term used in pharmacy to indicate any medicine prepared by boiling, and opposed to infusion , by which the article is simply steeped in boiling-hot water. In a culinary sense, broth is a D. , tea or coffee an infusion. In preparing medicinal D. , the water should always be poured cold on the articles, and al- lowed to boil slowly. When roots, barks, herbs, or leaves are employed, the boiling should never be con- tinued for more than ten minutes, as after that time the gummy and resinous parts are di olved by the water, and the mixture will become thick and ropy. Decoct'ive, a. That may be easily decocted. Decoct'ure, n. A substance or extract prepared by decoction. Decollate, v. a. [Lat. decollo, decollatus - de , and collum, the neck.] To strike off the head from the trunk; to behead; to decapitate. Decol'lated, p . a. (Zool.) Applied to univalve shells in which the apex or head is worn off in the progre of growth. Decollation, n. [Lat. decollatio .] Act of severing the head from the body; a beheading; - used chiefly in reference to the decapitation of John the Baptist. Deco'rum, n. (Lat. neut. of decor us , from decor , deco- ris.] Seemline ; fitne ; propriety of speech or de- mean or; suitablene ; becoming formality or gravity; order. "He kept with princes due decorum, Yet never stood in awe before 'em." - Swift . tending to bleach, or eradicate colors. Decol'orate, Decol'ourate, Decolorize, Decol'ourize, v . a. [Lat, decoloro , decolor at us- de, and color .] To deprive of color. Decolor a'tion, Decolour a'tion, n. [Lat. de- coloratio.] Removal or absence of color. De'complex, a. [ De , and complex , q. v.] Composed of a repetition of compounds. Decompos'able, a. That may be decomposed; as, decomposable matter. Decompose', v . a . [Fr. décomposer ; Lat. de , and com- pono , compos it us , to compose or compound. See COMPOSE.] To separate the constituent parts of a body or substance; to disunite elementary particles combined by chemical attraction; to resolve into original elements. -v. n. To resolve a compound into elementary particles. Decompos'ite, a. Compounded a second time; com- pounded with things already composite. Decomposition, n. Act of decomposing; separation of the constituents of a substance during putrefaction; separation of parts; resolution; analysis. Decrease, (de-krēs',) v. n. [Lat. decresco-de, and cresco, to grow.] To grow or become le ; to be diminished gradually in extent, bulk, quantity, or amount. or in strength, quality, or excellence; to le en; to diminish; to subside; as, life decreases . (Chem.) When compounds are resolved into their ele- ments, or when the chemical constitution of substances is altered, they are said to be decomposed; and when, in this operation, new products are formed, such pro- ducts are called the results of decomposition . Thus, am- monia is the result of the D. of certain animal sub- -n. A growing or becoming le ; gradual diminution; -v. a. To cause to become le ; to le en; to make small- er; to diminish gradually, or by small deduction. "Nor cherished they relations poor, stances; carburetted hydrogen gas is the result of the D. of pit-coal, . Chemists use the terms simple and compound, or single and double D. , to distinguish be- tween the le and more complicated cases. When a compound of two substances is decomposed by the in- tervention of a third, which is itself simple, or which acts as such, the case is one of simple D .; water, for in- stance, is a compound of oxygen and hydrogen. When the metal pota ium, which is a simple body, is thrown into it, it is decomposed; the hydrogen is liberated in the form of gas, and the oxygen combines with the po- ta ium to form pota a. When two new compounds are produced, the result is called double or complex D. Thus, when pota a (composed of pota ium and oxygen) and hydrochloric acid (composed of hydrogen and chlo- rine) react upon each other, chloride of pota ium (com- posed of chlorine and pota ium) and water (composed of hydrogen and oxygen) are the results. A knowledge of the mutual decomposing powers of different sub- stances, or, in other words, of their relative affinities, constitutes the skill of the practical chemist. See Ar- FINITY, EQUIVALENTS, . Decomposition of forces. (Phys.) See FORCES. Decomposition of light . (Phys.) See LIGHT. Decompound', v . a . [Lat. de , and compo no .] To com- pound or mix with that which is already a compound; to compound a second time; as, decompounded bodies. -a. ( Bot .) Decomposed; as, a decompound leaf. Deco'rah, in Iowa , a thriving city, cap. of Winnishiek co., on C., M. & St. P. R. R., and B., C. R. & N. R. R., 90 m. N. W. of Dubuque. The trade center of a fine farm- ing and stock-raising region, with important manuf. interests and excellent schools. Pop . (1897) abt. 3,700. Decorate, v . a. [Lat. decoro, decor at us , from dec us , decor is, comeline , grace, allied to decet , it is seemly, becoming; Sansk. dis , from dic , to show.] To adorn; to ornament; to beautify; to deck; to embellish; as, to decorate a room, to decorate a hero, to decorate the person, . Decoration, n. Act of adorning or decorating; as, the decoration of the person. That which adorns; embel- lishment; ornament; vesture; trappings; as, the deco- rations of a ball-room, church, . ( Mil .) A medal, cro of honor, badge of merit, ., given for distinguished services in the field; as, he wore his decorations . "The king, their father,... has decreed his sceptre to the younger." Rowe . Decree'able, a . That may be decreed. Decre'er, n. One who i ues a decree. Decreet', n. ( Scot . Law .) A final judgment of a court; a sentence. Dec'rement, n. [Lat. dec remen tum , from decresco . See DECREASE.] Decrease; waste; the state of becoming gradually le ; as, decrement of rocks. -The quantity lost by gradual waste. - Correlative to in- -v.n. To crackle much or frequently; to crackle, as salts when roasting.