Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
De-bāt'a-ble, a. p. 338Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; as, a debatable question.De-bāte', n. p. 338A fight, contention, or strife. [Rare.] In the day of Trinity next ensuing was a great debate, . . . and in that murder there were slain . . . fourscore. R. of Gl. But question fierce and proud reply…De-bāte', v. t. p. 338To engage in combat for; to fight for. Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine. Prescott.…De-bāte', v. i. p. 338To engage in strife or combat; to contend; to struggle; to dispute; to deliberate; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; — often followed by upon.De-bāte'ful, a. p. 338Full of contention; contested. “Debateful strife.” Spencer. 2. Quarrelsome; contentious; as, a debateful person. [Obs.]De-bāte'ful-ly, adv. p. 338With contention. [Obs.]De-bāte'ment, n. p. 338Controversy; deliberation. [Rare.] “A serious question and debatement with myself.” Milton.De-bāt'er, n. p. 338One who debates; a disputant; a controvertist.De-bāt'ing-ly, adv. p. 338In the manner of a debate.De-bāt'ing So-ci'e-ty p. 338A society for the purpose of debate and improvement in extemporaneous speaking.De-bauch', v. t. p. 338To lead away from purity or excellence; to corrupt in character or principles; to vitiate; to pollute; to lead astray; to seduce; as, to debauch one's self by intemperance; to debauch a woman; to…De-bauch', n. p. 338Excess in eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; gluttony; lewdness; debauchery. The first physicians by debauch were made. Dryden. 2. An act or occasion of debauchery. Silēnus, from his…De-bauch'ed-ly, adv. p. 338In a profligate manner.De-bauch'ed-ness, n. p. 338The state of being debauched; intemperance. Bp. Hall.Déb'au-chee', n. p. 338One who is given to intemperance or bacchanalian excesses; a man habitually lewd; a sensual or dissipated person; a rake; a libertine.De-bauch'er, n. p. 338One who debauches or corrupts others; especially, a seducer to lewdness.De-bauch'er-y, n. p. 338Corruption of fidelity; seduction from duty or allegiance. The republic of Paris will endeavor to complete the debauchery of the army. Burke. 2. Excessive indulgence of the appetites; especially…De-bauch'ment, n. p. 338The act of debauching or corrupting; the act of seducing from virtue or duty.De-bauch'ness, n. p. 338The state of being debauched; debauchedness. [Obs.]De-bēl', v. t. p. 338To conquer. [Obs.]De-bĕl′lāte, v. t. p. 338To subdue. [Obs.]Dē'bel-lā'tion, n. p. 338The act of conquering or subduing. [Obs.]De Bēne Es'se p. 338(Law.) Well being or conditional allowance. To take an order or testimony de bene esse, is to take or allow it for the present, but subject to be suppressed or disallowed on a further or full…De-bĕn’ture, n. p. 338A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person: the sum thus due. 2. A custom-house certificate entitling an exporter of…De-bēnt'ūred, a. p. 338Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods.Dēb'ile, a. p. 338Incapable of healthy or vigorous activity; weak; feeble. [Obs.]De-bil′i-tāte, v. t. p. 338To impair the strength of; to weaken; to make faint or languid; as, to debilitate the digestion by intemperance. Various ills debilitate the mind. Jennings.De-bĭl'i-tā'tion, n. p. 338The act of debilitating or weakening; relaxation.De-bĭl'ĭ-ty, n. p. 338The state of being debile or weak; want of strength; weakness; feebleness; languor; faintness; infirmity; imbecility. The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility, faintings.…Dĕb'it, n. p. 339A recorded item of debt; the side of an account in which every indebtedness is entered; money or any thing due; debt.Dĕb'ĭt, v. t. p. 339To charge with debt; as, to debit a purchaser the amount of goods sold. 2. To enter on the debtor side of a book; as, to debit the sum or amount of goods sold.Dĕb'it-ōr, n. p. 339A debtor. [Obs.] Shak.Dē/bi-tū/mi-ni-zā'tion, n. p. 339The act of depriving of bitumen.Dē-bi-tū'mi-nīze, v. t. p. 339To deprive of bitumen.Dē-blāi', n. p. 339(Fort.) The volume of earth excavated to form the remblai.Dĕb'/o-nâir', a. p. 339Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; complaisant. Was never prince so meek and debonair. Spenser.Dĕb'-o-nâir'i-ty, n. p. 339Gentleness; courtesy; debonairness. [Obs.] Chaucer.Dĕ'bō-nâir'ly, adv. p. 339In a meek and gentle manner.Dēb/o-nâir'ness, n. p. 339Gentleness; meekness; kindness. Sterne.De-bōsh', v. t. p. 339To debauch. “A deboshed lady.” Beau. & Fl.De-bouch', v. i. p. 339To issue or march out of a confined place, or from defiles. “Battalions debouching on the plain.” Prescott.Dé-bou-ché, n. p. 339A place for exit; hence, a market for goods.Dé-bou-chure, n. p. 339The outward opening, as of a valley, river, and the like.Dé-bris, n. p. 339(Geol.) Broken and detached fragments, taken collectively; especially, fragments detached from a rock or mountain, and piled up at the base. 2. Rubbish, especially such as results from the…De-brui'sed', a. p. 339(Her.) Crossed by an ordinary; as, a lion is debruised when a bendlet or other ordinary is drawn across it, as in the cut. The lion of England and the lilies of France without the baton sinister…Dĕbt, n. p. 339That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods, or services; that which one person is bound to pay to another, or to perform for his benefit; that of which payment is liable to be…Dĕbt'ed, a. p. 339Indebted; obliged to. [Rare.] “I stand debted to this gentleman.” Shak.Debt-ee', n. p. 339(Law.) One to whom a debt is due; a creditor. Blackstone.Dēbt'less, a. p. 339Free from debt. Chaucer.Dĕbt'or, n. p. 339The person who owes another either money, goods, or services. I'll bring your latter hazard back again. And thankfully rest debtor for the first. Shak. In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to…De-būl'li-āte, v. i. p. 339To boil over. [Obs.]Dĕb'ul-lĭ'tion, n. p. 339A bubbling or boiling over. [Obs.] Bailey.Dé-būt, n. p. 339A beginning or first attempt; hence, a first appearance before the public, as of an actor or public speaker, &c.; the beginning of an enterprise.Dé-bu-tant, n. p. 339A person who makes his first appearance before the public.Dé-bu-tante, n. p. 339A female making her first appearance before the public.Dĕc'a-chōrdă or Dĕc'a-chōr'don, n. p. 339An ancient musical instrument, of ten strings, resembling the harp. 2. Any thing consisting of ten parts.Dĕc'a-cū'mi-nā'ted, a. p. 339Having the point or top cut off. [Obs.] Bailey.Dĕc'a-dal, a. p. 339Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.Dĕc'ade, n. p. 339The sum or number of ten; a group or aggregate consisting of ten individuals; as, a decade of years; the decades of Livy.De-cā'dençe or De-cā'den-çy, n. p. 339Decay; deterioration. The old castle, where the family lived in their decadence. W. Scott.