is Flower of CcrastiHrt 
aquaticum. 
Decandria 
the presence of ten equal and distinct stamens 
and one or more pistils. It included the genera Di- 
<i/it/nt*, Lifcli /i/.v, Cerax- 
Hum, Saxtfraga, Si'tlnm. 
Oxalic, etc. 
decandrous, decan- 
drian (de-kau'drus, 
-dri-an), a. In bot., 
having ten stamens. 
decane (dek'an), . 
[< Gr. Maa, = E. ten, 
+ -ane.] A hydrocar- 
bon (C 10 H 22 ) which 
may be regarded as 
a polymer of amyl 
(CgHii), and the 
only form in which 
this radical can be 
made to exist in the 
free state. It is a paraffin found in coal-tar. 
See amyl 2 . 
decangular (de-kang'gu-lar), a. [< Gr. Sina, = 
E. ten, + L. angulus, an angle.] Having ten 
angles. 
decani (de-ka'ni), a. [L., gen. of decanus, a 
dean.] Scales., of or pertaining to the dean: 
as, the decani stall of the choir. Also decanal. 
Abbreviated de c. Decani side, the south side, or the 
side on the right of one facing the altar : opposed to the 
cantoris iide : so called because in a cathedral the dean's 
stall is on that side. Now used in reference to the chancel 
of any church. 
decant (de-kanf), v. t. [< F. decanter = Sp. Pg. 
decantar == It. decantare, < NL. decantare (in 
chem.), decant, prob. < L. de, down, + ML. can- 
tus, canthus, a side, corner: see cantl.] To pour 
off gently, as liquor from its sediment; pour 
from one vessel into another. 
They attend him daily as their chief, 
Decant his wine, and carve his beef. Swift. 
The excess of acid was decanted, and the crystals dried 
on a plate of porous porcelain. 
Amer. Jour. Sci., 3d ser., XXIX. 401. 
decantateH (de-kan'tat), r. t. [< NL. decan- 
tatus, pp. of decantare, decant: see decant.] To 
decant. 
decantate 2 t (de-kan'tat). v. t. [< LL. decan- 
tatus, pp. of decantare, chant, chant much, L. 
repeat a charm, repeat anything often, also 
leave off singing, < de- + cantare, sing: see 
chant, cant 2 .] To chant; celebrate in song. . 
Yet were we not able sufficiently to decantate, sing, and 
set forth His praises. 
Becon, Works (ed. Parker Soc.), I. 182. 
It [Lombardy] seemeth to me to be the very Elysian 
fields, so much decantated ... by the verses of Poets. 
Cort/at, Crudities, I. 113. 
decantation (de-kan-ta'shon), n. [< decant + 
-ation ; = F. decantation, etc.] The act of pour- 
ing liquor gently from its lees or sediment, or 
from one vessel into another. 
The fluid was allowed to stand in a decantation glass 
protected from dust by a glass shade, for a couple of 
hours. Proc. Roy. Soc., XXXVIII. 464. 
decanter (de-kan'ter), n. [< decant + -er 1 .] 1. 
A vessel used for receiving decanted liquors ; 
especially, a glass bottle, more or less orna- 
mental in character, into which wine or other 
liquor is poured for use on the table. 2. One 
who decants liquors. 
decapetalous (dek-a-pet'a-lus), a. [< Gr. 6ena, 
= E. ten, + TrtTaAov, leaf (mod. petal).] In bot., 
having ten petals. 
decaphyllous (dek-a-fil'us), a. [< Gr. dexa, = E. 
ten, + ^d/l/lov = L. folium, leaf.] In bot., having 
ten leaves. 
decapitalize (de-kap'i-ta-liz), v. t.; pret. and 
pp. decapitalized, ppr. decapitalizing. [< de- 
priv. + capitalize.] To reduce from the rank 
or position of a capital city, or from a position 
of central importance. 
If Rome could not be decapitalized without war. 
Daily Telegraph (London), Jan. 13, 1882. 
decapitate (de-kap'i-tat), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
decapitated, ppr. decapitating. [< ML. decaiii- 
tatus, pp. of decapitare (> F. (ttcapiter = Pr. des- 
capitar, decapitar = Sp. Pg. decapitar = It. de- 
capitare), behead, < L. de, off, + caput (capit-), 
head.] 1. To behead ; cut off the head of. 
Decapitate Laocobn, and his knotted muscles will still 
express the same dreadful suffering and resistance. 
B. Taylor, Lands of the Saracen, p. 167. 
In Germanic nations, as is well known, culprits were 
decapitated by means of the heavy-hladed broad two- 
handed sword. N. and Q., 7th ser., IV. 202. 
1480 
It. decapitasione, < ML. decapitatio(n-), < decap- 
itare, behead: see decapitate.'] 1. The act of 
beheading. 2. Summary removal from office. 
[Slang, IT. S.] 
decapit6 (de-kap-i-ta'), a. [F. decapite, pp. of 
decapiter, decapitate.] In tier. , having the head 
cut off smoothly: said of an animal used as a 
bearing. Also deffait. Compare couped. 
decapod (dek'a-pod), a. and n. [< NL. decapus 
(neut. pi. decapoda), < Gr. ficKa-Kovg, having ten 
feet (used only in sense of 'ten feet lone'), < 
Sena, = E. ten, + TTWC (iroi-) = E. foot.] I. a. 
Having ten feet, as a crustacean, or ten rays or 
arms, as a cephalopod; pertaining to the Decapo- 
da in either sense. Also decapodal, decapodous. 
II. . 1. In Crustacea, a decapodous or ten- 
footed crustacean, as a crab, lobster, shrimp, 
or prawn; one of the Decapoda. 2. In Mol- 
lusca, a decacerous or ten-armed cephalopod; 
one of the Decapoda. 
Also, rarely, decaf ode. 
Decapoda (de-kap 'o -da), n. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of decapus, having ten feet: see decapod.] 
1 . The ten-footed crustaceans ; those Crustacea 
which have five pairs of legs or ambulatory 
appendages, at least one pair of which is che- 
late ; an order of podophthalmic or stalk-eyed 
Crustacea. See cuts under Podophthalmia and 
stalk-eyed. They have the branchire inclosed in special 
lateral thoracic receptacles ; a large dorsal carapace or 
cephalothoracic shield, formed by fusion of the cephalic 
and thoracic somites, and usually prolonged in front as a 
beak or rostrum ; gnathites or mouth-parts consisting of a 
pair of mandibles, two pairs of maxilla;, and three pairs of 
maxillipeds or foot-jaws ; and five pairs of ambulatory legs, 
the ftrst pair of which is usually enlarged, and otherwise 
modified Into great pincer-like claws or chelipeds. The 
shell is regularly shed, annually or oftener, as long as the 
animal continues to grow. The order presents two ex- 
tremes of form, according to the development and con- 
struction of the abdominal segments or "tail." In the 
long-tailed or macrurous Decapoda. as the lobster, shrimp, 
prawn, and crawfish, the abdomen is protruded, jointed, 
and flexible. In the short-tailed or brachyurous Decapo- 
da, as the crabs, it is reduced and folded under the tho- 
rax, forming the apron. Various intermediate conditions 
are also found, as in the hermit-crabs. In consequence, 
the Decapoda are divided into Alacrura and Brachyura, 
with or without an intermediate group Anomura. See 
these words. 
2. The ten-armed cephalopods; a division of 
the dibranchiate or acetabuliferous Cephalopo- 
da, as distinguished from Octopoda, having two 
long tentacles or cephalic processes (besides 
the eight arms or rays), bearing suckers only 
at their ends : also called Decacera. The division 
includes all except the Octopodidce and Argonautidce, or 
the cuttles, calamaries, squids, etc., of such families as 
Spirulidce, Belemnitidte, Sepiidat, Sepiolidce, Loliginidce, 
Chiroteuthidoe, Loligopxidts, and Cranchiidce. See second 
cut under cuttle. 
decapodal (de-kap'o-dal), a. [< decapod + -al.] 
Same as decapod. 
decapode (dek'a-pod), a. and n. Same as deca- 
pod. [Bare.] " 
decapodiform (dek-a-pod'i-form), a. [< NL. 
decapus (-pod-), decapod, + L. forma, shape.] 
In entom., similar in 
form to a lobster or 
crawfish : applied to cer- 
tain aquatic, carnivo- 
rous, hexapod larvte with 
elongate tapering bod- 
ies, and swimming-lami- 
nee on the tail. The 
young of the coleopter- 
ous Dytiscus and the 
neuropterous Agrion are 
examples of this form. 
decapodous ( de-kap 'o- 
dus), a. [< decapod + 
-ous.] Same as decapod. 
Decapterygiit (de-kap- 
te-rij'i-I), n. pi. [NL., 
< Gr. (5tKo, = E. ten, + 
Trrfpvf (irrepvy-), a fin.] 
An order of fishes, con- 
taining those with ten 
fins. Block and Schneider. 
decarbonate (de-kar'bo- 
nat), v. t.; pret. and pp. decarbonated, ppr. de- 
carbonating. [= F. decarbonater ; as de- priv. 
+ carbonate, .] To deprive of carbon. 
decarbonization (de-kar^bo-ui-za'shon), n. [< 
decarbonize + -ation.] Same as decarburiza- 
tion. 
decarbonize (de-kar'bp-nlz), . t.; pret. and pp. 
decarbonized, ppr. decarbonizing. [= F. decar- 
boniser; as de- priv. + carbonize.] 
decarburize. 
decay 
The process of depriving of carbon : as, the de- 
cartmri:ation of cast-iron (a process resorted to 
in order to convert cast-iron into steel, or to re- 
duce it to the state of malleable iron). Also 
decarburisation, decarbonization. 
decarburize (de-kiir'bu-riz), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
decarburized, ppr. decarburizing. [< de- priv. 
+ carburise. Of. F. decarburer.] To deprive 
wholly or in part of carbon: the opposite of 
carburize. Thus, cast-iron is partly decarburized in 
making steel ; pig-iron is decarbnrized by cementation. 
See cementation. Also decarburixr, decarbonize. 
decardt (de-kard'), v. t. [< de- + carol. See 
discard.] 'To discard. 
Pedro. I would not task those sins to me committed. 
Rod. You cannot, sir ; you have cast those by, ilecarded 
'em. Fletcher, Pilgrim, iv. 2. 
decardinalize (de-kar'di-nal-iz), t-. t. ; pret. and 
pp. decardinalized, ppr. decardinalizing. [=F. 
decardinaliscr ; as de- priv. + cardinal + -ize.] 
To depose from the rank of cardinal. [Rare.] 
He [the Cardinal of Guise] is but young, and they speak 
of a Bull that is to come from Rome to decardinalize him. 
Howell, Letters, I. ii. 10. 
decare (de-kar'), n. [< F. decare, < Gr. 6tna, =. 
E. ten, + F. are: see are 2 .] In the metric sys- 
tem, a superficial measure, equal to ten times 
the are that is, a thousand square meters, or 
very nearly a quarter of an English acre. 
decarnationt (de-kar-na'shpn), . [< de- priv. 
+ carnation, after incarnation.] The putting 
off or laying aside of carnality or fleshly lusts. 
For God's incarnation inableth man for his own decar- 
nation, as I may say, and devesture of carnality. 
W. Montague, Devoute Essays, ii. 1. 
Decapodiform larva 
cits marpinalts} devouring an 
ephemerid larva. 
decasemic (dek-a-se'mik), a. [< Gr. 
< OCKO, ten, + arjfia, a sign, aqfieiav, a sign, mark, 
note, unit of metrical measurement, mora.] 
In anc. pros., consisting of ten units of metrical 
measurement : as, a decasemic colon. 
decasepalous (dek-a-sep'a-lus), a. [< Gr. 6e na, = 
E. ten, + NL. sepa'lv.m, sepal.] In hot., having 
ten sepals. 
decastere (dek'a-ster), . [< F. de"castere, < Gr. 
6eKa, = E. ten, + F. stere, < Gr. arepeAf, solid: 
see stere.] In the metric system, a solid mea- 
sure, ten times the stere or cubic meter, and 
nearly equal to 13.08 cubic yards. Also spelled 
dekastere. 
decastich (dek'a-stik), n. [< Gr. rftxa, = E. ten, 
+ arixof, a verse.] A poem consisting of ten 
lines. 
decastyle (dek'a-stil), a. [= F. decastyle = Sp. 
decastilo = PJ*. decastylo = It. decastilo, < Gr. 
ficKaarvAof, < rft/tn, = E. ten, + arii^of, a column : 
see style 2 .] Having ten columns in front, or 
consisting of ten columns : as, a decastyle tem- 
ple or portico. 
decasyllabic (dek"a-si-lab'ik), a. [= F. deca- 
syllabique; < Gr. Stiia, = E. ten, + av'AAa/if/, a syl- 
lable.] Having ten syllables : as, a decasyllabic 
verse. 
decation (de-ka'shon), n. [< Gr. MKOTOC. = E. 
tenth, < rff/ia = E. ten; with term, adapted to 
-ation.] The state of being tenth. 
Decatoma (de-kat'o-ma), . [NL., < Gr. oina, = 
E. ten, + -TOfiof, < re/ivctv, ra/ielv, cut.] 1. A 
genus of chalcid hymenopterous insects, of the 
subfamily Ewrytomiiue, of great extent, the spe- 
cies of which uniformly inhabit cynipidous 
galls, whether as inquilines or parasites. Spi- 
noto, 1811. 2. A genus of blister-beetles: same 
as Mylabris. 3. [Used as a plural.] In La- 
treille's system, a section of notacanthine Dip- 
tera, corresponding to the modern family Be- 
ridas. 
decaudate (de-ka'dat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. de- 
caudated, ppr. decaudating. [< L. de- pny. + 
cauda, tail : see cauda te. ] To cut off the tail of ; 
deprive of the tail. 
I plead the fox who, having lost his tail as I my head 
was for decamlating the vulpine species directly. 
C. Reade, Harper's Weekly, May 6, 1876, p. 370. 
decay (de-ka'), v. [Early mod. E. decaye, de- 
caie ; < tiF. decair, decaoir, dequeoir, assibilated 
dechair, dechaeir, dechaoir, decheoir, descheoir, 
mod. dechoir = Pr. dechazer, decazer = Sp. de- 
Same as 
2. To remove from office summarily. [Slang, 
U.S.] 
decapitation (de-kap-i-ta'shon),H, [=F.decnp- decarburizationdle-kiii-'bu-ri-za'shon), n. [ = 
itatioii = Sp. Oeoapitaoion = Pg. decapita^o = F. dfcarburisation; as decarburize + -ation.] 
caer = Pg. decair = It. decoders (= Sc. 
q. v.), fall away, decay, decline, < ML. *deca- 
dere, restored form of L. deciders (with modi- 
fied radical vowel), fall away, fail, sink, perish 
(whence ult. E. deciduous, q. v. ),< de, down, + 
cadere, fall, whence ult. E. cadence, chance, case 1 , 
etc.: see these words, and cf. decadent, deca- 
dence.] I. in trans. To pass gradually from a 
sound or perfect state to a less perfect state, or 
toward weakness or dissolution; fall into an 
