Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-BRIS', n. [debree'; Fr.]

Fragments; rubbish; ruins; applied particularly to the fragments of rocks. Buckland.

DEBT, n. [det; L. debitum, contracted; Fr. dette; Sp. and It. debito. See Debit.]

1. That which is due from one person to another, whether money, goods or services; that which one person is bound to pay or perform to another; as, the debts of a bankrupt; the debts of a nobleman. It is a common misfortune or vice to be in debt. When you run in debt, you give to another power over your liberty. Franklin.
2. That which any one is obliged to do or to suffer. Your son, my lord, has paid a soldier's debt. Shak. Hence death is called the debt of nature.
3. In law, an action to recover debt. This is a customary ellipsis. He brought debt, instead of an action of debt.
4. In Scripture, sin; trespass; guilt; crime; that which renders liable to punishment. Forgive us our debts. Lord's Prayer.

DEBT'ED, pp. [det'ted.]

Indebted; obliged to. [Not used.] Shak.

DEBT-EE', n. [dettee'.]

A creditor; one to whom a debt is due. Blackstone.

DEBT'LESS, a. [det'less.]

Free from debt. Chaucer.

DEBT'OR, n. [det'tor; L. debitor.]

1. The person who owes another either money, goods, or services. In Athens an insolvent debtor became slave to his creditor. Mitford.
2. One who is under obligation to do something. I am a debtor to the Greeks and barbarians. Rom. i. He is a debtor to do the whole law. Gal. v.
3. The side of an account in which debts are charged. [See Debit.]

DE-BUL-LI'TION, n.

A bubbling or seething over.

DE-BUT', n. [debu'; Fr. debut.]

Beginning; first appearance on the stage.

DE-BUTE', n. [Fr. debut, from debuter, to lead, to hit. Buter, to hit, from but, end, butt.]

The first cast; the beginning of an enterprise; first appearance in a play.

DEC'A-CHORD, or DEC-A-CHORD'ON, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and χορδη, string.]

1. A musical instrument of ten strings.
2. Something consisting of ten parts. Watson.

DEC'A-DAL, a.

Pertaining to ten; consisting of tens.

DEC'ADE, n. [L. decas, decadis; Fr. decade; Sp. decada; from Gr. δεκα, ten. See Ten.]

The sum or number of ten; an aggregate consisting of ten; as, a decade of years; the decades of Livy.

DE-CA'DENCE, or DE-CA'DEN-CY, n.

Decay. [See Decay.]

DEC'A-GON, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and γωνια, a corner.]

In geometry, a plane figure having ten sides and ten angles.

DEC'A-GRAM, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and gram, a weight.]

A French weight of ten grams, or 154 grains, 44 decimals, equal to 6 penny-weights, 10 grains, 44 decimals, equal to 5 drams, 65 decimals, avoirdupois.

DEC'A-GYN, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and γυην, a female.]

In botany, a plant having ten pistils.

DEC-A-GYN'IAN, a.

Having ten pistils.

DEC-A-HE'DRAL, a.

Having ten sides.

DEC-A-HE'DRON, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and έδρα, a base.]

In geometry, a figure or body having ten sides.

DEC'A-LIT-ER, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and liter.]

A French measure of capacity, containing ten liters, or 610.28 cubic inches, equal to two gallons and 64.44231 cubic inches.

DEC-AL'O-GIST, n. [See Decalogue.]

One who explains the decalogue. Gregory.

DEC'A-LOGUE, n. [dec'alog; Gr. δεκα, ten, and λογος, speech.]

The ten commandments or precepts given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, and originally written on two tables of stone.

DE-CAM'E-RON, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and μερος, part.]

A volume consisting of ten books.

DE-CAM'E-TER, n. [Gr. δεκα, ten, and μετρον, measure.]

A French measure of length, consisting of ten meters, and equal to 393 English inches, and 71 decimals.

DE-CAMP', v.i. [Fr. decamper; Sp. decampar; de and camp.]

To move or depart from a camp; to march off; as, the army decamped at six o'clock.