decidedness 
decidedness (de-si'ded-nes), n. The state of 
being decided. 
decidementt (de-sid'ment), n. [< decide + 
-meiit.] The act of deciding; decision. 
Kit 1 , signior ! there be times, and terms of honour 
To argue these things in, decidements able 
To speak ye noble gentlemen, ways punctual, 
And to the life of credit ; you're too rugged. 
Fletcher (and another), Love's Pilgrimage, ii. 1. 
decidencet (des'i-dens), n. [< L. deciden(t-)s, 
ppr. of deciderc, fall off, fall down, < de- + ca- 
dere, fall : see cadence and decay.] A falling off. 
Men observing the decidence of the thorn do fall upon 
the conceit that it annually rotteth away, and successively 
reneweth again. Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err. 
decider (de-sJ'dfer), . One who decides; one 
who or that which determines a cause or con- 
test. 
I dare not take vpon me to be umpire and decider of those 
many altercations among Chronologers. 
Purchas, Pilgrimage, p. 71. 
decidingly (de-si'ding-li), adv. In a deciding 
manner; decisively. 
But Herodotus who wrote his [Homer's] lifehath cleared 
this point : . . . and so decidingly concludeth, etc. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., vii. 13. 
decidua (de-sid'u-a), n. [NL., sc. membrana, 
the membrane that falls off, fern, of L. de- 
ciduus, that falls down : see deciduous.] In 
physiol., a membrane arising from alteration of 
the upper layer of the mucous membrane of the 
uterus, after the reception into the latter of the 
impregnated ovum, the name beinjj given to it 
because it-is discharged at parturition. At an 
early stage of the development of the human ovum the 
decidua exhibits a threefold division : a layer immediate- 
ly lining the uterine cavity, called the decidua vera (true 
decidua) ; a second layer, immediately investing the em- 
bryo, called the decidua, reflexa (turned-back decidua) ; 
and a third layer, or rather a specia_l development of part 
of the decidua vera, called the decidua serotina (late de- 
cidua). 
decidual (de-sid'u-al), a. [< decidua + -al.] 
Of or pertaining to the decidua. 
deciduary (de-sid'u-a-ri), a. [< L. deciduus (see 
deciduous) + E. -ary.] Falling off; dropping 
away; deciduous. [Rare.] 
The shedding of the deciduary margins may be compared 
with the shedding by very young birds of their down. 
Darwin, Descent of Man, II. 77. 
Deciduata (de-sid-u-a'ta), n. pi. [NL., neut. 
pi. of deciduatus: see deciduate.] One of the 
two major divisions (the other being Non-de- 
ciduata) into which monodelphous mammals 
have been divided. See the extract. 
In the Deciduata . . . the superficial layer of the mu- 
cous membrane of the uterus undergoes a special modifi- 
cation, and unites . . . with the villi developed from the 
chorion of the foetus ; and, at birth, this decidual and ma- 
ternal part of the placenta is thrown off along with the 
foetus, the mucous membrane of the uterus . . . being re- 
generated during, and after, each pregnancy. 
Huxley, Anat. Vert., p. 282. 
deciduate (de-sid'u-at), a. [< NL. deciduatus, 
having a decidua, < decidua, a decidua: see de- 
cidua.] 1. Having a decidua or a deciduous 
placenta ; pertaining to or having the charac- 
ters of the Deciduata. 2. Being deciduous, as 
a placenta. 
deciduity (des-i-du'i-ti), n. [< deciduous + 
-ity.] Deciduousness! Keith. [Rare.] 
deciduous (de-sid'u-us), a. [= F. decidu = Sp. 
deciduo, < L. deciduus, that falls down, < deci- 
dere, fall down, < de, down, + cadere, fall : see 
decay.] Falling or liable to fall, especially after 
a definite period of time ; not perennial or per- 
manent. 
There is much that is deciduous in books, but all that 
gives them a title to rank as literature in the highest 
sense is perennial. 
Lowell, Among my Books, 1st ser., p. 177. 
Deciduous institutions imply deciduous sentiments. 
U. Spencer, Social Statics, p. 458. 
Specifically "(a) In lot. : (1) Falling off at maturity or at the 
end of the season, as petals, leaves, fruit, etc. : in distinc- 
tion from fugacious or caducous organs, which fall soon 
after their appearance, and from persistent or permanent, 
or, as applied to leaves, from evergreen. (2) Losing the foli- 
age every year: as, deciduous trees. (() In zoo(. : (1) Fall- 
Ing off at a certain stage of an animal's existence, as the 
hair, horns, and teeth of certain animals. (2) Losing cer- 
tain parts regularly and periodically, or at certain stages 
or ages: as, a deciduous insect. Deciduous cusps or 
pieces of tile mandibles, in entom., appendages, one on 
the outer side or end of each mandible, whicli are gener- 
ally lost soon after the insect attains the imago state, leav- 
ing scars. They are found in a single family of rhynchoph- 
orous Coleoptera, the Otiorhi/ncliulat. Deciduous denti- 
tion. See dentition. Deciduous insects, those insects 
that cast off the wings after copulation, as the females 
of ants and termites. Deciduous membrane. See de- 
cidua. 
deciduousness (de-sid'u-us-nes), . The qual- 
ity of being deciduous. 
1484 
decigram, decigramme (des'i-gram), . [< F. 
decigramme = Sp. decigramo = Pg. decigrammo 
= It. di'cigramma, < L. deci(mus), tenth, + NL. 
gramma, gram.] In the metric system, a weight 
of one tenth of a gram, equal to 1.54 grains 
avoirdupois. 
decil, decile (des'il), . [= F. deeil = It. decile, 
irreg. < L. decimus, tenth, < decem = E. ten.] 
An aspect or position of two planets when they 
are a tenth part of the zodiac (36) distant from 
each other. 
deciliter, decilitre (des'i-le-ter), . [< F. de- 
cilitre = Sp. decilitro = Pg. It. decilitre, < L. deci- 
mus, tenth, + NL. litra, liter: see liter.] In the 
metric system, a measure of capacity equal to 
one tenth of a liter, or 3.52 English fluidounces, 
or 3.38 United States fluidounces. 
decillion (de-sil'yon), n. [Irreg. < L. decem, ten, 
+ E. (m)illion.] 1 . According to English nota- 
tion, a million involved to the tenth power, be- 
ing a unit with sixty ciphers annexed. 2. Ac- 
cording to the modern French notation, which 
is also used in the United States, a thousand in- 
volved to the eleventh power, being a unit with 
thirty-three ciphers annexed. [Owing to the am- 
biguity resulting from the partial adoption of the second 
meaning, this and similar words (except million) are prac- 
tically disused.] 
decillionth (de-sil'yonth), a. and . [< decil- 
lion + -th.] 1. a. Pertaining to a decilliou; 
having the magnitude or position of one of a 
decillion equal parts. 
II. n. The quotient of unity divided by a de- 
cillion; one of a decillion equal parts. 
decima (des'i-ma), n. ; pi. decimal (-me). [< L. 
decimus, tenth: see decimal.] 1. In music: (a) 
An interval of ten diatonic degrees, being an 
octave and a third. (6) An organ-stop whose 
pipes sound a tenth above the keys struck. 
2. A Spanish money : the tenth of a real vel- 
lon, or about 5 cents in United States money. 
decimal (des'i-mal), a. and n. [< OF. decimal, 
F. decimal = Sp. Pg. decimal = It. decimale = D. 
decimaal = G. Dan. Sw. decimal, < ML. decima- 
lis, < L. decimus, tenth, < decem = E. ten: see 
ten.] I. a. 1. Pertaining to the tenth or to tens ; 
proceeding by tens. 2. Relating to tithes. 
Regulating the jurisdiction of Ecclesiastical Courts in 
causes testamentary, decimal, and matrimonial. 
Heylin, Hist. Presbyterians, p. 469. 
Decimal arithmetic, the ordinary method of arithmetical 
calculation by the Arabic notation. The term is sometimes 
restricted to the calculation with decimals. Decimal 
currency. See currency. Decimal traction, a frac- 
tion whose denominator is a power of 10. So long as the 
quantity is conceived as having a power of 10 for its de- 
nominator it is properly and usually called a decimal 
fraction, howeverit may be written. The ordinary method 
of writing it is by prefixing to the numerator (used alone) 
a dot (the decimal point) with a number of zeros suffi- 
cient to make the number of places in the numerator 
equal to that in the denominator, less one. Thus, A = 
.1, T J, = .01, T1 A,n = -001, etc. ; 2^, = 2.06, etc. See II. 
Decimal measure, any measure belonging to a decimal 
system. Decimal notation, a system of writing num- 
bers depending on powers of 10, especially the ordinary 
system by means of nine digits and a cipher. The system 
in an imperfect form, wanting the (the places being pre- 
served by ruled columns), is believed to have been in- 
vented in India, and is explained in the Latin geometry 
of Boethius (died about A. i>. 525). The genuineness both 
of the passage and of the entire work has been much dis- 
puted, but is now more usually conceded. The system 
was, however, entirely disused in Europe until (having 
been completed by the invention of the 0) it was reintro- 
duced through the Arabians (by whom it is called the In- 
dian notation), being first systematically explained in the 
work of Leonardo da Pisa, about 1200. The extension of 
the system to fractions was accomplished much later. See 
II. Decimal numeration, any system of naming num- 
bers by taking them in multiples and powers of 10. Such 
systems have generally prevailed in all languages, being 
founded on the use of the ten fingers as helps to count. 
Decima) place, the position of a figure in decimal 
notation. Decimal point, a dot separating the whole 
part from the fractional part of an expression in decimal 
notation. The decimal point was invented by Edmund 
Gunter ; the writing of it above the line (which is often 
practised) by Newton. See II. Decimal system, any 
system of measurement or of counting whose units are 
powers of 10 ; especially, the metric system (which see, 
under metric). 
II. . An expression denoting a decimal 
fraction by an extension of the decimal nota- 
tion. A dot, called the decimal point, being placed to 
the right of the units' place, figures are written to the 
right of it, the first place in passing to the right being 
appropriated to tenths, the second to hundredths, etc. 
Thus, 199320.3 is the same as 199320ft ; 19032. 03 is the same 
as 19932,35 : and 1.993203 is the same as l-fififlftRft. (See deci- 
mal fraction, above.) The invention of decimals is usu- 
ally attributed to Stevinus (1582). In his notation a mixed 
number, for example 1993( i Vo, which is now written 1993- 
.203, would have been written 1993(0)2(1)0(2)3(3). The deci- 
mal point was introduced by Napier, the inventor of loga- 
rithms. Recurring decimal, a decimal in which after 
a certain point the digits are continually repeated. If 
there is but one recurring figure, the expression is called 
a repeating decimal; if there are more than one, the ex- 
decimo 
pression is called a circulating decimal. But these dis- 
tinctions are not commonly observed with strictness. A 
circulating decimal is denoted by means of dots over the 
first and last figures of the recurring period. Thus, A is 
0.0l35, that is, 0.0135185135, etc. 
decimalism (des'i-mal-izm), n. [< decimal + 
-ism.] The theory or system of a decimal no- 
tation or division, as of numbers, currency, 
weights, etc. 
decimalist (des'i-mal-ist), n. [< decimal + -ist.] 
One who employs or advocates computation or 
numeration by tens. 
Of course all these fifteens and sixties were objection- 
able to the pure decimalist. The Engineer, LXV. 83. 
decimalization (des"i-mal-i-za'8hon), n. The 
act of reducing or causing to conform to the 
decimal system. 
When the decimalization of English money was first 
proposed, the notion of international money had never 
been seriously entertained, and hardly indeed conceived. 
Jerons, Money and Mech. of Exchange, p. 178. 
decimalize (des'i-mal-iz), v. t.; pret. and pp. 
decimalized, ppr. decimalizing. [< decimal + 
-ize.] To reduce to the decimal system: as, to 
decimalize currency, weights, measures, etc. 
decimally (des'i-mal-i), adv. By tens; by 
means ot decimals. 
decimate (des'i-mat), v. t. ; pret. and pp. deci- 
mated, ppr. decimating. [< L. decimatus, pp. 
of decimare (> F. decimer = Sp. (obs.) Pg. deci- 
mar = It. decimare = D. decimeren = G. deci- 
miren = Dan. decimere = Sw. decimera), select 
the tenth by lot (for punishment), pay tithes, 
< decimus, tenth: see decimal.] If. To take 
the tenth part of or from ; tithe. 
I have heard you are as poor as a decimated Cavalier 
[referring to Cromwell's 10 per cent, income-tax on Cava- 
liers], and had not one foot of land in all the world. 
Dnjden, Wild Gallant, ii. 2. 
2. To select by lot and put to death every tenth 
man of: as, to decimate a captured army or a 
body of prisoners or mutineers (a barbarity oc- 
casionally practised in antiquity). 
God sometimes decimates or tithes delinquent persons, 
and they die for a common crime, according as God hath 
cast their lot in the decrees of predestination. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 280. 
3. Loosely, to destroy a great but indefinite 
number or proportion of: as, the inhabitants 
were decimated by fever ; the troops were deci- 
mated by the enemy's fire. 
It [England] had decimated itself for a question which 
involved no principle, and led to no result. 
Fmude, Hist. Eng. 
decimation (des-i-ma'shon), .. [= F. decima- 
tion = Pg. decimaqSo = It. decimazione, < L. 
decimatio(n-), < decimare, decimate: see deci- 
mate.] If. A tithing; specifically, an income- 
tax of 10 per cent, levied on the Cavaliers by 
Cromwell. 2. A selection of every tenth by 
lot, as for punishment, etc. 
By decimation, and a tithed death, 
. . . take thou the destin'd tenth. 
SAa*., T. of A., v. 5. 
And the whole army had cause to enquire into their 
own rebellions, when they saw the Lord of Hosts, with u 
dreadful decimation, taking off so many of our brethren 
by the worst of executioners. C. Mather, Mag. Chris., v. 9. 
3. The destruction of a great but indefinite 
number or proportion of people, as of an army 
or of the inhabitants of a country ; a heavy loss 
of life. 
decimator (des'i-ma-tor), . [= F. decimateur 
= It. decimatorc ; as decimate + -or.] One who 
or that which decimates. 
decime (de-sem'), n. [= F. decime, a tenth, tithe, 
decime (in older form disme, dime, > E. dime), < 
L. decimus, tenth: see decimal and dime.] A 
French coin, the tenth of a franc, or about '2 
United States cents. 
decimestrial (des-i-mes'tri-al), . [< L. decem, 
= E. ten, + -mestris, adj. form in comp. of 
mensis, a month, q. v. Cf. semester.] Consist- 
ing of or containing ten months. [Rare.] 
The decimestrial year still survived long after regal gov- 
ernment had ceased. 
W. Smith, Diet. Greek and Roui. Antiq., p. 192. 
decimeter (des'i-me-ter), n. [< F. decimetre (> 
Sp. decimetro = Pg. decimetre), < L. deci-mua, 
tenth, + F. metre = E. meter 2 .] In the metric 
si/stem, a measure of length equal to the tenth 
part of a meter, or 3.937 inches. A square deci- 
meter is equal to 15.5 square inches, and a decimeter 
cube, or liter, is 61 cubic inches, equal to 0.8S imperial 
quart or 1.066 United States (wine) quarts. 
decimo(des'i-mo; Sp.pron.da'the-mo), n. [Sp.. 
< L. deci inns, tenth: see decimal.] In Spanish 
reckoning: (a) The tenth part of a peso or dol- 
lar. (6) The tenth part of an oncia or ounce. 
