Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
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Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
Dē'com-pōs'a-ble, a. p. 342Capable of being decomposed; capable of being resolved into its constituent elements.Dē'com-pōse', v. t. p. 342To separate the constituent parts of; to set free from previously existing forms of chemical combination; to resolve into original elements; to bring to dissolution.Dē'com-pōse', v. i. p. 342To become resolved or returned from existing combinations; to undergo dissolution.Dē'com-pōs'ite, a. p. 342Compounded more than once; compounded with things already composite. 2. (Bot.) Compounded several times; decompound.De-cōm'po-sī'tion, n. p. 342The act of separating the constituent parts of a compound body or substance. 2. The state of being separated; separation into constituent parts; analysis; release from previous combinations; the…Dē'com-pound', v. t. p. 342To compound or mix with that which is already compound; to form by a second composition. 2. To reduce to constituent parts; to decompose. It divides and decompounds objects into a thousand curious…Dē'com-pound', a. p. 342Compound of what is already compounded; compounded a second time. 2. (Bot.) Several times compounded or divided, as a leaf or stem. Gray. Decompound leaf, a compound leaf whose parts are compound.Dē'com-pound'a-ble, a. p. 342Capable of being decompounded.Dĕc'o-ra-ment, n. p. 342Ornament. [Obs.] Bailey.Dĕc'o-rāte, v. t. p. 342To deck with that which is becoming, ornamental, or honorary; to adorn; to beautify; to embellish; as, to decorate the person; to decorate an edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers; to decorate the…Dĕc'o-rā'tion, n. p. 342The act of adorning, embellishing, or honoring; ornamentation. 2. That which adorns, enriches, or beautifies; something added by way of embellishment; ornament. The hall was celebrated for . . . the…Dĕc'o-ra-tīve, a. p. 342Suited to embellish; adorning.Dĕc'o-ra-tive-ness, n. p. 342Quality of being decorative.Dĕc'o-rā'tor, n. p. 342One who decorates, adorns, or embellishes.De-cōre', v. t. p. 342To decorate. [Obs.] “To decore and beautify the house of God.” Hall.De-cō’roūs or Dēe’o-roūs, a. p. 342Suitable to a character, or to the time, place, and occasion; marked with decorum; becoming; proper; as, a decorous speech; decorous behavior; a decorous dress for a judge. “A decorous pretext for…De-cō'roūs-ly or Dē'co-roūs-ly, adv. p. 342In a decorous or becoming manner.De-cō'roūs-ness or Dē'cō-roūs-ness, n. p. 342Decency or propriety of behavior.De-cōr'ti-cāte, v. t. p. 342To take off the exterior coating or bark of; to husk; to peel. “Great barley dried and decorticated.” Arbuthnot.De-côr-ti-cā'tion, n. p. 342The act of stripping off the bark or husk.De-cō'rum, n. p. 342Propriety of manner or conduct; grace arising from suitableness of speech and behavior to one's own character, or to the place and occasion; seemliness; decency. “Negligent of the duties and decorums…De-coy', v. t. p. 342To lead or entice into a snare; to lead into danger by artifice; to deceive; to entrap; to insnare; as, to decoy ducks into a net; to decoy troops into an ambush. E'en while fashion's brightest arts…De-coy', n. p. 342Any thing intended to lead into a snare; a lure that deceives and misleads into danger, or the power of an enemy. 2. A wild fowl, or the likeness of one, used by sportsmen to entice other fowl into a…De-coy'-bird, n. p. 342A bird used to draw others into a net, &c.; hence, a person employed to allure others into a snare. Clarke.De-coy'-dŭck, n. p. 342A duck employed to draw others into a net or situation to be taken.De-coy'-măn, n. p. 342A man employed in decoying and catching fowls.De-crēase', v. i. p. 342To become less; to be diminished gradually, in extent, bulk, quantity, or amount, or in strength, quality, or excellence; as, the days decrease in length from June to December. He must increase, but…De-crēase′, v. t. p. 342To cause to lessen, as in dimensions, amount, or quality; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases the means of charity. “That might decrease their present store.” Prior. Syn.—To DECREASE…De-crēase′, n. p. 342A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue; a decrease of strength. 2. The wane of the moon.De-creas'ing-ly, adv. p. 342By diminishing.Dēc're-ā'tion, n. p. 342Act of decreasing; diminution. [Obs.] Cudworth.De-cree', n. p. 342An order from one having authority, deciding what is to be done by a subordinate; also, a determination by one having power, deciding what is to take place or occur; edict; law; rule. “The decrees of…De-cree', v. t. p. 343To determine judicially by authority, or by decree; to determine, decide on; to order, to appoint; to set or constitute; as, a court decrees a restoration of property. Thou shalt decree a thing, and…De-cree', v. i. p. 343To decide authoritatively; to determine decisively. “Our council did decree.” Shak.De-cree'a-ble, a. p. 343Capable of being decreed. Vernon.De-crē'er, n. p. 343One who decrees. “The first decreer.” Goodwin.De-creet', n. p. 343(Scots Law.) The final judgment or sentence of the Court of Session, or an inferior court, by which the question at issue is decided.Dē'cre-ment, n. p. 343The state of becoming gradually less; decrease; waste; loss. “The decrements of my pendents.” Ford. Rocks, mountains, and the other elevations of the earth suffer a continual decrement. Woodward. 2.…De-crēp′it, a. p. 343Broken down with age; wasted or worn by the infirmities of old age; in the last stage of decay. “Beggarly or decrepit age.” Milton. “Already decrepit with premature old age.” Motley. Sometimes…De-crĕp'i-tāte, v. t. p. 343To roast or calcine, so as to cause a continual explosion or crackling of the substance; as, to decrepitate salt.De-cre'pi-tate, v. i. p. 343To crackle, as salts when roasting.De-crep'i-tā'tion, n. p. 343The act of roasting with a continual crackling; the separation of parts with a crackling noise, occasioned by heat.De-crĕp'it-ness or De-crĕp'i-tūde, n. p. 343The broken state produced by decay and the infirmities of age.Dĕc'res-cĕn'do, a. p. 343(Mus.) With decreasing volume of sound; a direction to performers, either written upon the staff or indicated thus: Decrescendo.De-crĕs'cent, a. p. 343Becoming less by gradual diminution; decreasing; as, a decrescent moon.De-cre'tal, a. p. 343Appertaining to a decree; containing a decree; as, a decretal epistle.De-crē'tal, n. p. 343An authoritative order or decree; especially, a letter of the pope, determining some point or question in ecclesiastical law. The decretals form the second part of the canon law. 2. A collection of…De-crēte', n. p. 343Decree. [Obs.] Chaucer.De-crē'tion, n. p. 343A decreasing. [Obs.] Pearson.De-crē'tist, n. p. 343One who studies or professes the knowledge of the decretals.De-crē'tive, a. p. 343Having the force of a decree; determining. The will of God is either decretive or preceptive. Bates.Dē'cre-to-ri-ly, adv. p. 343In a decretory or definitive manner.Dĕc're-to-ry, a. p. 343Established by a decree; definitive; settled. The decretory rigors of a condemning sentence. South. 2. Serving to determine; critical. “Decretory days.” Brown.De-crev', v. i. p. 343To decrease. [Obs.] “She still more decrev'd.” Spenser.De-crī'al, n. p. 343A crying down; a clamorous censure; condemnation by censure.De-crī'er, n. p. 343One who decries or clamorously censures.De-crown′, v. t. p. 343To deprive of a crown. [Obs.] Hakewill.Dē/crus-tā'tion, n. p. 343The removal of a crust. [Obs.] Cotgrave.De-cry', v. t. p. 343To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to discredit; to bring into disrepute; to disparage. For small errors they whole plays decry. Dryden. Measures which are…Dē`cū-bā'tion, n. p. 343The act of lying down. [Obs.] Evelyn.