decachord 
decachord (dck'ii-konl), . [< LL. drcarlior- 
I{IIIH,<. (ir. oBttdyqpifop, prop. neut. of foKaxopdor, 
ten-stringed, < MHO, = K. ten, + xl'^'h a string, 
uord, chord.] 1. A musical instrument with 
ten strings; specifically, an obsolete French 
musical instrument of the guitar class having 
ten strings. 
'I'll.. ii city of tlie Lord! 
\\ IIOM- <-v. -Hasting music 
Is the glorious tl>T<K-ln,;l ' 
J. M. \--<i!>', tr. i>f IVniuril "f rlnny's Hone Novisslmse. 
2t. Something consisting of ten parts; a bun- 
dle consisting of ten things bound, as it were, 
together. 
decachordont (dek-a-kor'don), . [< Gr. fi- 
xo/iihv, neut. of itMxopiof, ten-stringed: see 
decacliiird.] Same as dectichord, 2. 
A decachordtmut ten <iuoillilii-lii';il i| motions concerning 
religion and state. Up. Watxon, Qnodlibets of Religion. 
Decacrenidia (dek'a-kre-uid'i-a), n. pi. [NL., 
< Gr. i5f/ia, = E. ten, + Kpi/vhhov, dim. of npijvi, 
fountain.] A group of pneumonophorous holo- 
thurians, constituted by the genus niiopnlodiiia 
(which see). Ifraini. 
decacuminated (de-ka-ku'mi-na-ted), a. [< L. 
deeacuiiiiiiatitu, pp. of decacuminare, cut the top 
off, < df, from, -t- ciiciimi'ii, a. point.] Having 
the top out off. 
decad, decade (dek'ad, -ad), n. [< F. decade = 
Sp. decada = Pg. decada = It. decade,< L. decas 
(decad-), < Gr. otx&t (texai-), the number ten, a 
company of ten, < (5fa = E. ten.] 1. The num- 
ber ten ; in a Pythagorean or cabalistic sense, 
as an element of the universe, the tetractys or 
quaternary number, in this sense the form decad is 
exclusively used. The decad was considered significant 
as lirinn the liase of numeration and potentially embra- 
cing all numhers, and thus representing the cosmos or 
its source. It was further considered as highly significant 
that the decad is 1 + 2 + 3 + 4, for four naturally sug- 
gests organic perfection, since melodies and other com- 
positions are best divided into four parts, and for other 
reasons ; so that the greatness of Pythagoras as a philoso- 
pher was summed up in his title of "revealer of the qua- 
ternary number." By cabalists it is considered important 
as being the number of the commandments. 
All numbers and all powers of numbers appeared to 
them [the Pythagoreans] to be comprehended in the decad, 
which is therefore called by Philolans great, all-powerful, 
and all-producing, the beginning and the guide of the di- 
vine and heavenly, as of the terrestrial life. 
teller, Presocratic Phil., tr. by Alleyne, I. 427. 
2. A set of ten objects ; ten considered as a 
whole or unit. Specifically 3. A period of 
ten consecutive years, fin this sense the form 
decade is more common.] 
So sleeping, so aroused from sleep, 
Thro' sunny decadx new and strange, 
Or gay cmimiuenniads, would we reap 
The flower and quintessence of change. 
Tetmyxoii, Day-Dream, L'Envoi. 
Decade, which began with denoting any "aggregate of 
ten," has now come to mean "decennlum" or "space of 
ten years." F. Hall, Mod. Eng., p. 304. 
4. In music, a group of ten tones, having pre- 
cise acoustical relations with one another, ar- 
ranged so as to explain and correct problems 
in harmony and modulation. It consists of two 
complete trines, the Itrst based on the root or assumed 
starting-tone, and the second a perfect fifth above the 
first, together with two incomplete trines, one above and 
the other below the complete. It contains two heptads, 
which have a common cell (or fundamental group of 
tones). Compare diwdene. 
6. A division of a literary work containing ten 
parts or books. 
The best part of the thyrd Decade in Linie, is hi a maner 
translated out of the thyrd and rest of Polibius. 
Anehaui, The Scholemaster, p. 130. 
6. Same as decad ri ng. Decad ring, a ring Having 
knolis or bosses on the circum- 
ference, usually ten of one fi n in 
for the aves, one for the p;iter, 
and sometimes a twelfth ft >r the 
credo: used like a rosary in num- 
bering. Also called roimrj/ ring. 
decadal (dek'a-dal), a. [< 
decad + -al.] Pertaining 
to or comprising ten ; con- 
sisting Of teas. 
decadation (dek-a-da'- * 
snou), it. [< dfcatl + 
-aiivit.] In mimic, the theory, process, or act 
of passing from one decad to another related 
decad : a generalized statement of modulation. 
decade, w. See decad. 
decadence (do-ka'dens), . [< F. decadence = 
Sp. Pg. dcnideiicia = It. drmdi'ii;n, < AIL. ilc- 
cadentia, decay, < AIL. "decaden(t-)s, decaying: 
see dccnili-nt, and cf. i-ndi-m-i . ] A falling off or 
away; the act or process of falling into an in- 
ferior condition or state ; the process or state of 
decay; deterioration. 
Decad Ring; with tenknobs 
1479 
Thvoldrithtli', where the f:tmily lived ill their ilfflldrnrr. 
Bntt, 
We have already seen that our n-markalili- feature of 
!li<- ititrlleetilul Iniivemelit that pn-ri-ilrd < 'hristianity was 
the gradual <t>'i-fi(ti'iu'r <>t patriotism. 
Lffkii. Kurop. Morals, II. 148. 
Toe Decadence, s]>ecitlc:illy, the last centuries of the 
Roman rinpire. 
decadency (de-kii'den-si), n. Same as deca- 
ilniri: [Hare.] 
decadent (de-ka'dent), . [= Sp. Pg. It. deca- 
dente, < ML. *decaden(t-), ppr. of 'decmli << , 
decay: see decay.] Falling away; decaying; 
deteriorating. 
In the classical language (Sanskrit), the aorist is a drca- 
ilenl formation. Whitiity, Amer. Jour. Phllul., V. 285. 
The < vltir liinguages are all without exception decadent, 
the most tenacious of life being the Welsh and the Bre- 
ton. Encyc. Brit., VIII. 701. 
decadianome (dek-a-di'a-nom), n. [< Gr. itfra, 
= E. ten, + flavour/, 'distribution, < Aiavtutiv, dis- 
tribute, < Sia, through, + vi/ietv, distribute.] 
In math., a quartic surface (a dianome) having 
ten conical points. 
decadistt (nek'a-dist), n. [< decad + -ist.] 
One who writes a work in ten parts. 
decadrachm, . See dekadrachm. 
decagon (dek a-gon), n. [= F. decagone = Sp. 
dccdgono = Pg. Ft. decagono, < Gr. fiina, =. E. ten, 
+ yuvia, an angle.] In geom., a plane figure 
having ten sides and ten angles. When all the 
sides and angles are equal, it is a regular deca- 
gon. 
decagonal (de-kag'o-nal), a. [= F. decagonal; 
as decagon + -al.] Pertaining to or being a 
decagon ; having ten sides. 
decagram, decagramme (dek'a-gram), . [< 
F. decagramme = Sp. dccdgramo, < Gr. rffxa, = 
E. ten, + I'paftfia, a certain weight, > F. gramme, 
gram: seei/rani 2 .] Intheie<ricsyste/,aweight 
of lOgrams, equal to 154.32349 grains. It is 0.353 
ounce avoirdupois, or 0.3215 ounce troy. Also 
dekagram. 
decagyn (dek'a-jin), n. [= F. decagyne = Sp. 
decdgino = Pg. decaayni), < Gr. Si ra, = E. ten, + 
yvyii, a female.] In l>ot., a plant having ten 
pistils. 
Decagynia (dek-a-jin'i-ii), . pi. [NL.: see 
decagyn.] The name given by Linneeus to the 
tenth order in the first thirteen classes of his 
vegetable system, characterized by the pres- 
ence of ten styles. 
decagynian (dek-a-jin'i-an), a. Same as de- 
cagynous. 
decagynous (de-kaj'i-nus), . [As decagyn + 
-misT] In hot., having ten pistils. 
decahedral (dek-a-he'dral), a. [< decahedron 
+ -al.] In geom.'j having ten faces. 
decahedron (dek-a-he'drpn), n. [= F. de'caedre 
= It. decaedro, (. NL. decahedron, < Gr. Sena, = E. 
ten, + e6pa, a seat, base, = E. settle, a seat : see 
settle 1 , seat, sit.] In geom., a solid having ten 
faces. 
decaidt, . [< ML. *decadere, decay: see de- 
cay.] To fall away; decay. [Scotch.] 
Decaisnea(de-ka'ne-aorde-kas'ne-a), n. [NL., 
after Joseph Decaisne, a French botanist (1807- 
82).] A genus of plants, natural order Ber- 
beridacea>, discovered on the Himalaya, 7,000 
feet above the sea. There is but one species, D. in- 
>'/ <x. It sends up several erect stalks like walking-sticks, 
bearing leaves 2 feet long. Its fruit, which resembles a 
short cucumber, is palatable, and is eaten by the Lepchas 
of Sikklm. 
decalcification (de-kal'si-fi-ka'shon), w. [< df- 
<-nl<-ifi/ + -(itioii : see -fy.] The removal of cal- 
careous matter, as from bones ; specifically, in 
ill ntistry, the removal of the hardening element 
of the teeth by chemical agency. 
decalcify (de-kal'si-fi), r. t. ; pret. and pp. de- 
calcijied.'ppr. decalcifying, [< de- priv. + cal- 
<'ifi/.] To deprive of lime, as bones or teeth of 
their calcareous matter. 
If dentine has been decalcified at any place by the ac- 
tinn of acids, it undergoes putrefaction under the influ- 
ence of bacteria which do not seem to belong to any s|- 
i-itk- species. .Yuf/i/v. XXX. 140. 
decalcomania (de-kal-ko-ma'ni-ft), . [< F. Ae- 
culcnmiinie, < decalqaer, counter-trace, + Gr. 
/uivia, madness.] The practice or process of 
transferring pictures to marble, porcelain, 
glass, wood, and the like. It consists usually in sim- 
ply gumming a tilni Ix-ariim a colored print to the object. 
and ttu-n removing the paper backing of the film by aid of 
warm water, the colored hn:igr irniaining fixed. 
decalet (dek'a-tet), w. [< Gr. 6fna, = E. ten, + 
Aim. -Iff.] A stiinx.ii of ten lines. [Humorous.] 
decaliter, decalitre (dek'a-le-ter), . [< K. </< 
caliti-i- = Sp. deciilitrii = Pg. It. deealitro, < Gr. 
Decandria 
Mitn, = E. ten, + F. litre: see liter.] In the wrt- 
;/< xjlxlriil, t\ measure of i-n |i;n-it y. I'Olltailling 
10 liters, or 610.2 cubic inches, almost exact- 
ly equal to 2$ imperial gallons, or 2.64 United 
States ( wine) gallons. Also dekaliter. 
decalitron(dek-a-lit'ron ), n.: pi. dicnlilra (-ra). 
[< Gr. Amd/uTpov', a coin worth ten tirpat, neiit. 
of iendMTpof, worth ten /ir/itu, < (!//,, = K. t> n. 
+ f.irpa, a silver coin of Sicily: see liti-r, lilra.] 
In anc. numismatics, the Syracusan name of the 
didrachm of the Attic standard. 
decalogist (de-kal'o-jist), . [As dirnlmjur + 
-int.] One who ex'plains or comments on the 
decalogue. 
Through which [languages] he miraculously travelled, 
without any guide, except Mr. Uod, the aetalogitt. 
Frf/act to J. Gregory t Pvtthwna (1050). 
decalogue (dek'a-log), . [Formerly also ili-i-n- 
lii</i; < ME. decaloge; < F. decalogue = Sp. de- 
cdlogo = Pg. It. deatlogo, < LL. deculogus, < 
Gr. (5t)i?x)j-of, the decalogue, < itna, = E. ten. 
+ /-<i)of, a word, speech, < ).fyetv, say, speak.] 
The ten commandments or precepts given, ac- 
cording to the account in Exodus, by God to 
Moses on Mount Sinai, and originally written 
on two tables of stone. 
The grossest kind of slander is that which in the '' 
liiytie is called bearing false testimony against our neigh 
Itour. Sorrow, .Sermons, I. xvll. 
Men who can hear the Decaloffue, and feel 
No self-reproach. 
Wirrdmcortlt, Old Cumberland Beggar. 
decanialee, n. See dikamali. 
Decameronlc (de-kam-e-ron'ik), a. [< Decame- 
ron (< It. Decamerone) + -ic.] Pertaining to 
or imitating the Decameron, a celebrated col- 
lection of tales by Boccaccio. 
decamerons (de-kam'e-rus), a. [< Gr. Sina, = 
E. ten, -I- pfpof, part.] In hot., having the 
parts of the flower in tens. Sometimes written 
10-merous. 
decameter, decametre (dek'a-me-ter), n. [< 
F. decametre = Sp. decdmetro = Pg. It. decamc- 
tro, a length of ten meters (cf . Gr. &K&/jrrpof, of 
ten (poetical) meters), < Gr. 6ixa, = E. ten, + 
fitrpov, a measure, meter, > F. metre, E. meter. ] 
In the metric system, a measure of length, con- 
sisting of 10 meters, and equal to 393.7 English 
inches, or 32.8 feet. Also dckameter. 
decamp (de-kamp'), v. i. [< F. decamper, for- 
merly descampcr (> E. discamp) (= Sp. Pg. de- 
campar), < L. de-, away, + campux, camp.] 1. 
To depart from a camp or camping-ground ; 
break camp; march off: as, the army decamped 
at six o'clock. 
The army of the King of Portugal was at Elvas on the 
22nd of the last month, and was to decamp on the 24th. 
Tatter, No. 11. 
2. In a general sense, to depart quickly, secret- 
ly, or unceremoniously; take one's self off; run 
away: as, he decamped suddenly. 
My I'ncle Toby and Trim had privately decamped from 
my father's house in town. Sterne, Tristram Shandy, vi. 6. 
The fathers were ordered to decamp, and the house was 
once again converted into a tavern. Goldim ith. Essays, v. 
3. To camp. [Rare.] 
The first part of the ascent [of the mountain] is steep, 
covered with chesnut, hazel, and beech ; It leads to a plain 
spot on the side of the hill where the I'rukes were decamp- 
.injr. racocke. Description of the East, II. II. 120. 
decampment (de-kamp'ment), n. [< F. de- 
campement (= Sp. Pg. decant pamen to), < de- 
camper, decamp : see decamp.] Departure from 
a camp ; a marching off. [Rare. ] 
decanal (dek'a-nal), a. [< LL. decanus, a dean : 
see rfean 2 .] 1 . Pertaining to a dean or a dean- 
ery. 
In his rectorial as well as decanal residence, he would 
lie near his friend. CAurton, A. Now ell. p. 78. 
2. Same as decani. 
The pall-bearers and executors in the seats on the dec- 
anal side; the other noblemen and gentlemen on the 
cantorial side. Malone, Sir J. Reynolds. 
decanate (dek'a-nat), n. [< ML. decanatus, 
the office or dignity of a decanus, a chief of ten : 
see dean 2 .] In astral., a third part, or ten de- 
grees, of a zodiacal sign assigned to a planet, 
in which it has the least possible essential dig- 
nity. 
decander (de-kan'der), M. [< F. decandre, etc., 
< Gr. ofxo, = E. ten, + avqp (avip-), a man, male.] 
In hut., a plant having ten stamens. 
Decandria (de-kan'dri-a), n. pi. [NL. : see 
ili en ndfr.] The tenth class of plants in the 
artificial system of Linueus, characterized by 
