Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-CIL'LION, n.

A number involved to the tenth power.

DE-CILL'IONTH, a.

Pertaining to a decillion.

DEC'IM-AL, a. [L. decimus, tenth, from decem, ten; Gr. δεκα; Goth. tig, ten, Sax. a tie.]

1. Numbered by ten; as, decimal progression. Locke.
2. Increasing or diminishing by ten; as, decimal numbers; decimal arithmetic; decimal fractions.
3. Tenth; as a decimal part.

DEC'IM-AL, n.

A tenth.

DEC'IM-AL-LY, adv.

By tens, by means of decimals.

DEC'IM-ATE, v.t. [L. decimo, from decem, ten.]

1. To tithe; to take the tenth part.
2. To select by lot and punish with death every tenth man; a practice in armies, for punishing mutinous or unfaithful troops.
3. To take every tenth. Mitford.

DEC'IM-A-TED, pp.

Tithed; taken by lots.

DEC'IM-A-TING, ppr.

Tithing; taken by lots.

DEC-IM-A'TION, n.

1. A tithing; a selection of every tenth by lot.
2. The selecting by lot for punishment every tenth man, in a company or regiment, &c.

DEC'IM-A-TOR, n.

One who selects every tenth man for punishment. South.

DE-CIM'E-TER, n.

A French measure of length equal to the tenth part of a meter, or 3 inches and 93710 decimals.

DEC'IM-O-SEX-TO, a. [L.]

book is in decimo-sexto, when a sheet is folded into sixteen leaves. Taylor.

DE-CI'PHER, v.t. [Fr. dechiffrer; de and chiffre, a cipher; It. deciferare; Sp. descifrar; Port. decifrar. See Cipher.]

1. To find the alphabet of a cipher; to explain what is written in ciphers, by finding what letter each character or mark represents; as, to decipher a letter written in ciphers.
2. To unfold; to unravel what is intricate; to explain what is obscure or difficult to be understood; as, to decipher an ambiguous speech, or an ancient manuscript or inscription. 3. To write out; to mark down in characters. Locke. [This use is now uncommon, and perhaps improper.]
3. To stamp; to mark; to characterize. [Unusual.] Shak.

DE-CI'PHER-A-BLE, a.

That may be deciphered, or interpreted.

DE-CI'PHER-ED, pp.

Explained; unraveled; marked.

DE-CI'PHER-ER, n.

One who explains what is written in ciphers.

DE-CI'PHER-ING, ppr.

Explaining; detecting the letters represented by ciphers; unfolding; marking.

DE-CIS'ION, n. [s as z; L. decisio. See Decide.]

1. Determination, as of a question or doubt; final judgment or opinion, in a case which has been under deliberation or discussion; as, the decision of the Supreme Court. He has considered the circumstances of the case and come to a decision.
2. Determination of a contest or event; end of a struggle; as, the decision of a battle by arms.
3. In Scotland, a narrative or report of the proceedings of the Court of Sessions. Johnson.
4. Report of the opinions and determinations of any tribunal. We say, read the decisions of the Court of King's Bench.
5. Act of separation; division. [Not used.]
6. Unwavering; firmness.

DE-CI'SIVE, a.

1. Having the power or quality of determining a question, doubt, or any subject of deliberation; final; conclusive; putting an end to controversy; as, the opinion of the court is decisive of the question.
2. Having the power of determining a contest or event; as, the victory of the allies was decisive.

DE-CI'SIVE-LY, adv.

In a conclusive manner; in a manner to end deliberation, controversy, doubt or contest. Chesterfield.

DE-CI'SIVE-NESS, n.

1. The power of an argument or of evidence to terminate a difference or doubt; conclusiveness.
2. The power of an event to put an end to a contest.

DE-CI'SO-RY, a.

Able to decide or determine. Sherwood.

DECK, n.

1. The covering of a ship, which constitutes a floor, made of timbers and planks. Small vessels have only one deck; larger ships have two or three decks. A flush deck is a continued floor from stem so stern, on one line.
2. A pack of cards piled regularly on each other. Grew.

DECK, v.t. [D. dekken; G. decken; Sw. täckia; Dan. tækker; Sax. gedecan and thecan and theccan; L. tego, to cover, whence tectum, a roof, Fr. toit. The Gr. has τεγος, a roof, but the verb has a prefix, ςεγω, to cover. Hence L. tegula, a tile. The Ir. teach, a house, contracted in Welsh to ty, may be of the same family. In Ger. dach is a roof, and thatch may be also of this family. Class Dg, No. 2, 3, 10. The primary sense is to put on, to throw over, or to press and make close.]

1. Primarily, to cover; to overspread; to put on. Hence,
2. To clothe; to dress the person; but usually, to clothe with more than ordinary elegance; to array; to adorn; to embellish. The dew with spangles decked the ground. Dryden.
3. To furnish with a deck, as a vessel.

DECK'ED, pp.

Covered; adorned; furnished with a deck.