dec a drachm

decagon (dek'a-gon), n. [= F. décagone = Sp. decagono = Pg. It. decagono, decad, decade (dek'ad, -ād), n. [F. décade Sp. décad a = Pg. decad a = It. decade, as being the base of numeration and potentially embra cing all numbers, and thus representing the cosmos or its source. It was further considered as highly significant that the decad is 1+2+3+4, for four naturally suggests organic perfection, since melodies and other compositions are best divided into four parts, and for other reasons; so that the greatne of Pythagoras as a philosopher was summed up in his title of "revealer of the qua ternary number." By cabalists it is considered important as being the number of the commandments. All numbers and all powers of numbers appeared to them [the Pythagoreans) to be comprehended in the decad, which is therefore called by Philolaus great, all-powerful, and all-producing, the beginning and the guide of the di vine as of terrestrial life. Zeller , Presocratic Phil., tr. by Alleyne, i. 427. 2. A set of ten objects; ten considered as a whole or unit. Specifically-3. A period of ten consecutive years. [In this sense the form decade is more common.] So sleeping, so aroused from sleep, Thro' sunny decads new and strange, Or gay quinquenniads, would we reap The flower and quinte ence of change. Tennyson, Day-Dream, L'Envoi. Decade , which began with denoting any "aggregate ten," has now come to mean "decennium" or "space IMG:content-2141.png:[blocks in formation] = Pg. It. dec a logo , decalog us , ten , + λόγος , a word, speech, The gro est kind of slander is that which in the dec a logue is called bearing false testimony against our neigh bour . Barrow , Sermons, I. xvii. Men who can hear the Decalogue , and feel No self-reproach. Words worth, Old Cumber land Beggar. decagon; having ten sides. decagram, decagramme (dek'a-gram), n. [ F. gramme, gram: see gram2.] In the metric system, a weight of 10 grams, equal to 154.32349 grains. It is 0.353 ounce avoirdupois, or 0.3215 ounce troy. Also dekagram. decagyn (dek'a-jin), a-jin), n. [F. décagyne = Sp. decagino = Pg. decagyno, pistils. Decagynia Decagynia (dek-a-jin'i-ä), n. pl. [NL.: see decagyn.] The name given by Linnæus to the tenth order in the first thirteen cla es of his vegetable system, characterized by the presence of ten styles. decagynian (dek-a-jin'i-an), a. Same as de cagynous.