Dictionary
An American Dictionary of the English Language
Revised and enlarged (Goodrich & Porter)
Springfield, Mass. · G. & C. Merriam · 1865
- Entries
- 95,912
- Pages
- 1,538
- Illustrations
- 2,133
Look up a word as the writers of the time used it.
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.De-cūm'bence or De-cūm'ben-cy, n. p. 343The act, posture, or state of lying down. Browne.De-cūm'bent, a. p. 343Bending or lying down; prostrate; recumbent. The decumbent portraiture of a woman resting on a death's head. Ashmole. 2. (Bot.) Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending to rise…De-cūm'bent-ly, adv. p. 343In a decumbent posture.De-cŭm'bi-tūre, n. p. 343The act or time of taking to one's bed, or of lying in bed, from sickness. Boyle. 2. (Astrol.) The scheme or aspect of the heavens by which the prognostics of recovery or death are discovered.Dē'cū-ple, a. p. 343Tenfold; multiplied by ten.Dē'cū-ple, n. p. 343A number ten times repeated.Dē'cū-ple, v. t. p. 343To make tenfold; to multiply by ten.De-cū'ri-on, n. p. 343(Rom. Antiq.) An officer in the Roman army who commanded ten soldiers. Temple.De-cū'ri-on-ate, n. p. 343The office of a decurion.De-cŭr'rent, a. p. 343(Bot.) Extending downward; — said of a leaf whose base extends downward along the stem. Lindley.De-cūr'rent-ly, adv. p. 343In a decurrent manner.De-cār'sion, n. p. 343The act of running down, as a stream.De-cûr'sive, a. p. 343Running down; decurrent.De-cûr′sive-ly, adv. p. 343In a decursive or decurrent manner. Decursively pinnate (Bot.), having the leaflets decurrent, or running along the petiole;—said of a leaf.De-cārt', v. t. p. 343To cut short. [Obs.] Bale.Dē-cur-tā'tion, n. p. 343The act of cutting short. [Obs.]Dē'cu-ry, n. p. 343A set or squad of ten men under a decurion. [Obs.] Raleigh.