Emily Dickinson Lexicon

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.

DECK'ER, n.

1. One who decks or adorns; a coverer; as, a table-decker.
2. Of a ship, we say, she is a two-decker or a three-decker, that is, she has two decks or three decks.

DECK'ING, n.

Ornament; embellishment. – Homilies.

DECK'ING, ppr.

Covering; arraying; adorning.

DE-CLAIM', v.i. [L. declamo; de and clamo, to cry out. See Claim and Clamor.]

1. To speak a set oration in public; to speak rhetorically; to make a formal speech, or oration; as, the students declaim twice a week.
2. To harangue; to speak loudly or earnestly, to a public body or assembly, with a view to convince their minds or move their passions.

DE-CLAIM', v.t.

1. To speak in public.
2. To speak in favor of; to advocate. [Not in use.]

DE-CLAIM'ANT, or DE-CLAIM'ER, n.

1. One who declaims; a speaker in public; one who attempts to convince by a harangue.
2. One who speaks clamorously.

DE-CLAIM'ING, n.

A harangue. – Bp. Taylor.

DE-CLAIM'ING, ppr.

Speaking rhetorically; haranguing.

DEC-LA-MA'TION, n. [L. declamatio.]

1. A speech made in public, in the tone and manner of an oration; a discourse addressed to the reason or to the passions; a set speech; a harangue. This word is applied especially to the public speaking and speeches of students in colleges, practiced for exercises in oratory. It is applied also to public speaking in the legislature, and in the pulpit. Very often it is used for a noisy harangue, without solid sense or argument; as, mere declamation; empty declamation.
2. A piece spoken in public, or intended for the public.

DEC-LA-MA'TOR, n.

A declaimer. [Not used.] – Taylor.

DE-CLAM'A-TO-RY, a. [L. declamatorius.]

1. Relating to the practice of declaiming; pertaining to declamation; treated in the manner of a rhetorician; as, a declamatory theme. – Wotton.
2. Appealing to the passions; noisy; rhetorical without solid sense or argument; as, a declamatory way or style.

DE-CLAR'A-BLE, a. [See Declare.]

That may be declared, or proved.

DE-CLAR'ANT, n.

One who declares.

DEC-LA-RA'TION, n. [L. declaratio.]

1. An affirmation; an open expression of facts or opinions; verbal utterance; as, he declared his sentiments, and I rely on his declaration.
2. Expression of facts, opinions, promises, predictions, &c., in writings; records or reports of what has been declared or uttered. The Scriptures abound in declarations of mercy to penitent sinners.
3. Publication; manifestation; as, the declaration of the greatness of Mordecai. – Esth. x.
4. A public annunciation; proclamation; as the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776.
5. In law, that part of the process or pleadings in which the plaintif sets forth at large his cause of complaint; the narration or count.

DE-CLAR'A-TIVE, a.

1. Making declaration; explanatory; making show or manifestation; as, the name of a thing may be declarative of its form or nature. – Grew.
2. Making proclamation, or publication.

DE-CLAR'A-TO-RI-LY, adv.

By declaration or exhibition.