Emily Dickinson Lexicon

DE-BATE'MENT, n.

Controversy; deliberation. [Little used.] – Shak.

DE-BAT'ER, n.

One who debates; a disputant; a controvertist.

DE-BAT'ING, ppr.

Disputing; discussing; contending by arguments.

DE-BAT'ING-LY, adv.

In the manner of a debate.

DE-BAUCH', n. [Fr. debauche; Arm. dibauch.]

Excess in eating or drinking; intemperance; drunkenness; gluttony; lewdness.

DE-BAUCH', v.t. [Fr. debaucher; Arm. dibaucha. This is said by Lunier to be compounded of de and an old French word, signifying a shop, (bauche,) and that its primary sense is to draw or entice one from his shop or work, and in this sense it is still used. Hence embaucher is to help a journeyman to employment, and to enlist as a soldier. The general sense then of debauch, in English, is to lead astray, like seduce.]

1. To corrupt or vitiate; as, to debauch a prince or youth; to debauch good principles.
2. To corrupt with lewdness; as, to debauch a woman.
3. To seduce from duty or allegiance; as, to debauch an army.

DE-BAUCH'ED, pp.

Corrupted; vitiated in morals or purity of character.

DE-BAUCH'ED-LY, adv.

In a profligate manner. – Cowley.

DE-BAUCH'ED-NESS, n.

Intemperance. – Bp. Hall.

DE-BAU-CHEE', n.

A man given to intemperance, or bacchanalian excesses. But chiefly, a man habitually lewd.

DE-BAUCH'ER, n.

One who debauches or corrupts others; a seducer to lewdness, or to any dereliction of duty.

DE-BAUCH'ER-Y, n.

1. Excess in the pleasures of the table; gluttony; intemperance. But chiefly, habitual lewdness; excessive unlawful indulgence of lust.
2. Corruption of fidelity; seduction from duty or allegiance. The republic of Paris will endeavor to complete the debauchery of the army. – Burke.

DE-BAUCH'MENT, n.

The act of debauching or corrupting; the act of seducing from virtue or duty. Taylor.

DE-BEL'LATE, v.t. [L. debello.]

To subdue. [Not used.] – Bacon.

DE-BEL-LA'TION, n.

The act of conquering or subduing. [Not used.] – More.

DE-BENE-ESSE, adv. [or n.; De bene esse; L.]

Well being or conditional allowance. In law, to take an order or testimony de bene esse, is, to take or allow it for the present, but subject to be suppressed or disallowed on a further or full examination. – Cowel.

DE-BEN'TURE, n. [Fr. from L. debeo, to owe. Class Db.]

1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person. This paper, given by an officer of the customs, entitles a merchant exporting goods, to the receipt of a bounty, or a drawback of duties. When issued by a treasurer, it entitles the holder to a sum of money from the state.
2. In the customs, a certificate of drawback; a writing which states that a person is entitled to a certain sum from the government, on the exportation of specified goods, the duties on which had been paid.

DE-BEN'TUR-ED, a.

Debentured goods are those for which a debenture has been given, as being entitled to drawback.

DEB'ILE, a. [L. debilis; Fr. debile; It. debile; Sp. debil. See Class Db, No. 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 15, 47, 51.]

Relaxed; weak; feeble; languid; faint; without strength. – Shak.

DE-BIL'I-TATE, v.t. [L. debilito, from debilis.]

To weaken; to impair the strength of; to enfeeble; to make faint or languid. Intemperance debilitates the organs of digestion. Excessive indulgence debilitates the system.

DE-BIL'I-TA-TED, pp.

Weakened; enfeebled; relaxed.

DE-BIL'I-TA-TING, a.

Tending or adapted to weaken.

DE-BIL'I-TA-TING, ppr.

Weakening; enfeebling; impairing strength.

DE-BIL-I-TA'TION, n.

The act of weakening; relaxation.

DE-BIL'I-TY, n. [L. debilitas, from debilis.]

Relaxation of the solids; weakness; feebleness; languor of body; faintness; imbecility; as, morbid sweats induce debility. [It may be applied to the mind, but this is less common.]