Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-CEM'BER, n. [L. december, from decem, ten; this being the tenth month among the early Romans, who began the year in March.]

The last month in the year, in which the sun enters the tropic of Capricorn, and makes the winter solstice.

DE-CEM-DEN'TATE, a. [L. decem, ten, and dentatus, toothed.]

Having ten points or teeth.

DE'CEM-FID, a. [L. decem, ten, and fido, to divide.]

Ten-cleft; divided into ten parts; having ten divisions. Martyn.

DE'CEM-LOC'U-LAR, a. [L. decem, ten, and loculus, a little bag or cell.]

Having ten cells for seeds. Martyn.

DE'CEM-PE-DAL, a. [L. decem, ten, and pes, a foot.]

Ten feet in length.

DE'CEM-VIR, n. [plur. Decemvirs or Decemviri; L. decem, ten, and vir, a man.]

One of ten magistrates, who had absolute authority in ancient Rome.

DE-CEM'VI-RAL, a.

Pertaining to the decemvirs in Rome. Encyc.

DE-CEM'VI-RATE, n. [L. decemviratus. See Decemvir.]

1. The office or term of office of the decemvirs or ten magistrates in Rome, who had absolute authority for two years.
2. A body of ten men in authority.

DE'CEN-CY, n. [Fr. decence; L. decentia, from decens, deceo, to be fit or becoming; Sp. decencia; It. decenza. The L. deceo coincides in elements with the G. taugen, to be good, or fit for; D. deugen, to be good or virtuous; Sax. dugan, to avail, to be strong, to be worth; duguth, virtue, valor; dohtig, doughty; dohter, daughter; W. tygiaw, to prosper, to befit; to succeed. The Teutonic and Welsh words have for their radical sense, to advance or proceed, to stretch forward. In Welsh also, têg signifies clear, fair, smooth, beautiful; tegu, to make smooth, fair, beautiful, which would seem to be allied to deceo, whence decus, decoro. See Class Dg, No. 18, 25.]

1. That which is fit, suitable or becoming, in words or behavior; propriety of form, in social intercourse, in actions or discourse; proper formality; becoming ceremony. It has a special reference to behavior; as, decency of conduct; decency of worship. But it is used also in reference to speech; as, he discoursed with decency. Those thousand decencies, that daily flow / From all her words and actions. Milton.
2. Suitableness to character; propriety.
3. Propriety in speech; modesty; opposed to ribaldry, or obscenity. Want of decency is want of sense. Pope. It may be also used for propriety of speech, opposed to rudeness, or disrespectful language; and for propriety in dress, opposed to raggedness, exposure of nakedness, filthiness, &c.

DE'CEN-NA-RY, n. [L. decennis, decennium, from decem, ten, and annus, a year.]

1. A period of ten years.
2. A tithing consisting of ten freeholders and their families. Blackstone.

DE-CEN'NI-AL, a. [L. decennalis, as above.]

Continuing for ten years; consisting of ten years; or happening every ten years; as, a decennial period; decennial games.

DE-CEN'NO-VAL, or DE-CEN'NO-VA-RY, a. [L. decem, ten, and novem, nine.]

Pertaining to the number nineteen; designating a period or circle of nineteen years. [Little used.] Holder.

DE'CENT, a. [L. decens; Fr. decent. See Decency.]

1. Becoming; fit; suitable, in words, behavior, dress and ceremony; as, decent language; decent conduct or actions; decent ornaments or dress.
2. Comely; not gaudy or ostentatious. A sable stole of Cyprus lawn, / O'er the decent shoulders drawn. Milton.
3. Not immodest.
4. In popular language, moderate, but competent; not large; as, a decent fortune. So a decent person is one not highly accomplished, nor offensively rude.

DE'CENT-LY, adv.

1. In a decent or becoming manner; with propriety of behavior or speech.
2. Without immodesty. Past hope of safety, 'twas his latest care / Like falling Cæsar, decently to die. Dryden.

DE'CENT-NESS, n.

Decency.

DE-CEP-TI-BIL'I-TY, n.

The quality or state of being capable or liable to be deceived. Glanville.

DE-CEP'TI-BLE, a.

That may be deceived. Brown.

DE-CEP'TION, n. [L. deceptio, from decipio. See Deceive.]

1. The act of deceiving or misleading. All deception is a misapplication of the established signs used to communicate thoughts. Anon.
2. The state of being deceived or misled. Incautious and inexperienced youth is peculiarly exposed to deception
3. Artifice practiced; cheat; as, a scheme is all a deception.

DE-CEP'TIOUS, a.

Tending to deceive; deceitful. Shak.

DE-CEP'TIVE, a.

Tending to deceive; having power to mislead, or impress false opinions; as, a deceptive countanance or appearance.

DE-CEP'TIVE-LY, adv.

In a manner to deceive.

DE-CEP'TIVE-NESS, n.

The power of deceiving; the tendency or aptness to deceive.

DE-CEP'TO-RY, a.

Tending to deceive; containing qualities or means adapted to mislead.

DE-CERN', v.t. [L. decerno.]

To judge. [Not in use.]

DE-CERN'ED, pp.

Judged; estimated.