DECADE

(Lat. dec as, from Gr. 5s«ac, fen.) A word used by some old writers in a general sense for the number ten, or an enumeration by tens; but more peculiarly appropriated to the number of books into which the history of the Roman Empire by Livy is divided, each division consisting of ten books or decades. It was also the name given to the space of ten days, which in tha French republican calendar was substituted for the ordinary week. The tenth or last day was termed decad i. Thus, except in bi extile years, the whole number of decades was thirty-six and a half: the days of the half decades, falling at the close of the year, were at one time called sansculottides, and afterwards complementary y and dedicated respectively to Virtue, Genius, Labour, Opinion, and Recompence. [s. 329]