Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-COL-O-RA'TION, n. [L. decoloratio.]

Absence of color. Ferrand.

DE-COL'OR-IZE, v.t.

To deprive of color.

DE'COM-PLEX, a. [de and complex.]

Compounded of complex ideas. Gregory. Locke.

DE-COM-POS'A-BLE, a. [s as z; See Decompose.]

That may be decomposed; capable of being resolved into its constituent elements. Davy.

DE-COM-POSE', v.t. [s as z; Fr. decomposer; de and composer, to compose, from L. compono, compositus.]

To separate the constituent parts of a body or substance; to disunite elementary particles combined by affinity or chimical attraction; to resolve into original elements.

DE-COM-POS'ED, pp.

Separated or resolved into the constituent parts.

DE-COM-POS'ING, ppr.

Separating into constituent parts.

DE-COM-POS'ITE, a. [decompoz'it; L. de and compositus. See Compose.]

Compounded a second time; compounded with things already composite. Bacon.

DE-COM-PO-SI'TION, n.

1. Analysis; the act of separating the constituent parts of a substance, which are chimically combined. Decomposition differs from mechanical division, as the latter effects no change in the properties of the body divided, whereas the parts chimically decomposed have properties very different from those of the substance itself.
2. A second composition. [In this sense, not now used.] Boyle.

DE-COM-POUND', a.

1. Composed of things or words already compounded; compounded a second time. Boyle.
2. A decompound leaf, in botany, is when the primary petiole is so divided that each part forms a compound leaf. A decompound flower is formed of compound flowers, or containing, within a common calyx, smaller calyxes, common to several flowers. Martyn.

DE-COM-POUND', v.t. [de and compound.]

1. To compound a second time; to compound or mix with that which is already compound; to form by a second composition. Boyle. Locke. Newton.
2. To decompose. [Little used, or not at all.]

DE-COM-POUND'A-BLE, a.

That may be decompounded.

DE-COM-POUND'ED, pp.

Compounded a second time; composed of things already compounded.

DE-COM-POUND'ING, ppr.

Compounding a second time.

DEC'O-RA-MENT, n.

Ornament. [Not used.]

DEC'O-RATE, v.t. [L. decoro, from decus, decor, comeliness, grace. See Decency.]

1. To adorn; to beautify; to embellish; used of external ornaments or apparel; as, to decorate the person; to decorate an edifice; to decorate a lawn with flowers.
2. To adorn with internal grace or beauty; to render lovely; as, to decorate the mind with virtue.
3. To adorn or beautify with any thing agreeable; to embellish: as, to decorate a hero with honors, or a lady with accomplishments.

DEC'O-RA-TED, pp.

Adorned; beautified; embellished.

DEC'O-RA-TING, ppr.

Adorning; embellishing; rendering beautiful to the eye, or lovely to the mind.

DEC-O-RA'TION, n.

1. Ornament; embellishment; any thing added which renders more agreeable to the eye or to the intellectual view.
2. In architecture, any thing which adorns and enriches an edifice, as vases, paintings, figures, festoons, &c.
3. In theaters, the scenes, which are changed as occasion requires.

DEC'O-RA-TIVE, a.

Adorning; suited to embellish.

DEC'O-RA-TIVE-NESS, n.

Quality of being decorative.

DEC'O-RA-TOR, n.

One who adorns or embellishes.

DEC'O-ROUS, a. [L. decorus; See Decency.]

Decent; suitable to a character, or to the time, place and occasion; becoming; proper; befitting; as, a decorous speech; decorous behavior; a decorous dress for a judge.

DEC'O-ROUS-LY, adv.

In a becoming manner.

DEC'O-ROUS-NESS, n.

Decency or propriety of behavior.