declinometer 
An instrument for measuring; Ilir deelination 
of tile magnetic needle, and for observing its 
Variations. Ill ma^ni lii-oli,,.r\aloncs tin iv are |nTllia- 
: ul instrillin-tlts ill' Illis killil. and thrj all- commonly 
made !! rt"_o.stiTiiiL: !> |>li.>l"^i.i|iliir means, ll is the 
nliji-.'l nf ,uch lutnlinentl I" leuMcr tin' small I rl.v 
ami annual variations in declination, ami also (lie varin 
tiuns iliif In mau'iietir stiiims. 
declinoUS (dc-kii'nus), . |< I-. ili-clnnx, ;nlj. 
(< iln-liiiiiri , liend ilown : sec ilccliiii ), + K. -mix. \ 
III li'il., same us drclillillr, 1. 
declivant (dek'li-vant),. [\mli-clin- + -<//.) 
Same as <o- clinniit. 
dedivate (dek'li-val), <i. [< ilcclirc + -(//'. I 
Ill < ilium., gent ly sloping ; forming all angle of 
Irss I linn I.V with sonic .surface. 
declive (dc-kliv'), </. ami ii. [< V. ilcclirc, < L. 
ili'clinx. sloping: SIT ill -clii-ili/. \ I. n. Inclining 
downward: in xni'i/., applied to the most de- 
pendent purl ion of a tumor or abscess. 
II. ii. In iiiKit., the posterior portion of the 
inonticiilns nl the vcrmis superior of the cerc- 
bclliiiii. 
declivent (dek'li-vcnt), a. [Var. of declivant.] 
Bent downward ; sloping gently away from the 
general surface or the part behind: specifically 
used in entomology: as, the sides of the elytra 
are di-rliri nl. 
declivitous (de-kliv'i-tus), . [< declirit-y + 
-IIH.I. ] Same as ili'diroiix. 
declivity (de-kliv'i-ti), .; pi. di-clicities (-tin)- 
[< K. dri'liriti- = S]>. ill diriiliul = Pg. declividade 
= It. ilirlirilii, < L.rf<'p/iri<( /-).-, a slope, decliv- 
ity, < tleclirig, sloping, < <lc, down, -r clii'iix. a 
slope, hill, < *cli-narc, slope, bend down: see 
ili-i'liiie. Cf. acclivity, proclirity.] A downward 
slope. Specifically (a) The portion of a hill or range 
of mountains lying on one side or the other of the crest 
or axis. 
It [the Ural] consists, along its western declivity, of the 
older paheozoic rocks. Sir J. Hertclifl. 
The Pyrenees made then, as they make now, no very se- 
rious difference between the. languages spoken on their 
opposite dfflivitifs. Tii-kimr, Span. Lit., I. 277. 
(6) In entoiii., a part gently .sloping away from the general 
plane of a surface. Declivity of the metathorax, a 
slnping or perpendicular portion of the metathorax over 
the base nf the abdomen. 
declivous (de-kli'vus), a. [< L. dcclivis, sloping 
(see di, -linti'i), + K. -mix. ] Sloping downward ; 
having the character of a declivity; declivate: 
specifically, in :ool., said of parts which slope 
gently downward: as, a declivous mesosternnm. 
Also, rarely, declivitous. 
decoct (de-kokf), r. t. [< ME. decocten, < L. il<- 
coctux, pp. of decoquert, boil down, < de, down, 
+ coqttcre, cook : see coofc 1 .] 1. To prepare by 
boiling; digest in hot or boiling water ; extract 
t lie strength or flavor of by boiling. 
Holy thistle decocted in clear posset drink was hereto- 
fore much used at the lieginnings of agues. 
Doyle, Works, VI. 371. 
2. To digest in the stomach. 
There she decode, and doth the food prepare ; 
Then she distrilmtes it to every vein ; 
Then she expels what she may fitly spare. 
SirJ. />'ii-i"'N. Immortal, nf Siml. 
3f. To warm as if by boiling ; heat up ; excite. 
Can sodden water, 
A drench for sur-rein'd jades, their barley-broth, 
l>:cfl their cold blood to such valiant heat? 
Slink., lien. V.,tii. 5. 
4. To concoct; devise. 
What villanie are they derurting now? 
J/irrv/iiu, Antonio ami Mcllida, II., iv. :; 
decoctt (de-kokf), a. [ME., < L. dccoctns, pp. : 
see the verb.] Cooked; digested. 
Harly seede. or pills tl>-<-in-t anil rnldr. 
rnl/iitliu*. llnslinii.il ic (K. K. T. S.), p. -J4. 
decoctible (de-kok'ti-bl), (i. [< decoct + -ililc.] 
Thai may lie'boiled or digested. 
decoction (de-kok'shon), n. [< ME. decoccioun, 
< OF. iliTiiction. F. ili'ToclioH = Sp. di-coccion = 
Pg. ilcciici;iii> = II. diTii:ioiii; < L. ilicnclio(H-), 
a decoction, a boiling down, < ili-coclu.i, pp. of 
ill coquere : see decoct.] 1. The act of boiling 
in water, in order to extract the peculiar prop- 
erties or virtues. 
If after a ,l>-"n-tfii uf hearbes in a winter night we e\ 
jMse tin liquor to the frigid air. we may observe in the 
morning nnder a rrust uf ire tin 1 (irrfrrt apin-arance . . . 
nf the plant* that were taken from it. 
Gtanrillf, Vanity of Dogmati7.ini:. v 
2. The liquor in which an animal or a vegetable 
substance has been boiled ; water impregnated 
by boiling with the properties of such a s'lli- 
stance: as, a decoction ot Peruvian bark. 
If a plant lie boiled in water, thi' strained liquor Is 
railed the deeotftfofl of the plant. Arbuthnot. 
M 
1489 
decoctive (de-kok'livl, . Having power to 
ile ..... (. | K'arc. | 
decocture (de-kok'tnr), . [< L. as if *</.;- 
liirn, < ilinii-hlx. pp.: see ili-rix't.\ A MlhstallCO 
prepare.! byil ........ (ion. [Hare.] 
decoit (de-koif ), . An erroneous spelling of 
iliihiif. 
decolll, ''. ' l< Or', (tirullrr. !'. ilmillir = Hp. 
</((/""'"' = I'g- '''.'/"''"' = It- drrollnre, < L. ilc- 
; I.eheail. < 'ili; from, + collum, neck: see 
To behead. 
A speedy public ilethniliing and i/.r.,//iil;/ of the king. 
I'arliniHfitlarii Hint., an. n.i- 
decollate (de-kol'at), v. t. ; pret. and pp. di c<>l- 
Inlcil, ppr. ilcfullii/iiii/. [ < L. di'ciilliilux, pp. of 
ili-cnllnri-, behead: See ilimll.] To behead. 
He brought forth a statue with three heads: two of 
them were quite beat oil. and the third waknmch bruised, 
but not ,l,,'',f/<it,.l. 
Hi-iiirixut. Hierarchy of Angels (1035), p. 474. 
All live to-day have suffered death 
With no distinction save in dying he 
Decollated by way of privilege, 
The rest hanged decently and in order. 
llrmcniny, Ring and Book, II. 314. 
decollated (de-kol'a-ted), p. a. Beheaded; 
specifically, in 'much., applied to those univalve 
shells which have the apex worn off in the pro- 
gress of growth. This happens constantly with some 
sln-lls, such as a species of Bulimun, which is called in con- 
decollation (de-ko-la'shon), i. [< ME. ilccni- 
litcion, < OF. decollation, F. defoliation = 8p. 
ilci/iillitciiiii, ilicnliicion = Pg. degola^So = It. de- 
eollazione, < L. decollatio(H-),<decollarc, behead : 
see decoll, decollate.] 1. The act of beheading; 
decapitation; the state of one beheaded. 
Their decollations and flagellations are quite sickening 
in detail, and distinguished from the tidy, decorous exe- 
cutions of the early Italians. Contemporary Hep., LI. 523. 
Specifically 2. In swrg., the removal of the 
head of the child in cases of difficult parturi- 
tion. Decollation of St. John the Baptist, a festival 
celebrated on the 2Uth day of August in both the Eastern 
and the Western Church, in memory of the decapitation of 
St. John the Baptist. It is entered under the same date 
in the calendar of the English prayer-book in the words, 
" St. John the Baptist, beheaded." 
d6collet6 (da-kol-e-ta'), [F., pp. of decollctcr, 
bare one's neck and shoulders, < de-, < L. dc. 
off, down, + cow, col, < L. collum, neck.] (n) 
Low-necked: said of a dress-waist so shaped 
as to leave the neck and shoulders exposed. 
(6) [Fern, decolletce.] By extension, having the 
neck and shoulders exposed : said of a woman 
the waist of whose dress is cut low in the neck. 
decolor, decolour (de-kul'or), v. t. [= F. deco- 
lurcr, < 1 1 . i/cciilorare, deprive of color, < de, from, 
+ color, color: see color, and cf. discolor.] To 
deprive of color ; bleach. 
The antiputrescent and dccobntriwi properties of char- 
coal. Ure, Wet., I. 415. 
decolorant (de-kul'or-ant), a. and n. [< L. de- 
coloritn(t-)x, ppr. of decolornrc : see decolor.] 
I. a. Having the property of removing color; 
bleaching. 
Alcohol ... is volatile, inflammable, and decolorant. 
Wilder and Gaye, Anat. Tech., p. 113. 
II. n. A substance which bleaches or re- 
moves color. 
decelerate (de-kul'or-at), v. t. ; pret. and pp. 
ili'Colonited, ppr. ilecolorating. [? L. decolora- 
IHS, pp. of decolorarc, deprive of color: see de- 
color.] To deprive of color ; decolor; bleach; 
blanch. 
decelerate (de-kul'or-at), a. [< L. dceolorn- 
tuji, pp.: see the verb.] Deprived of color; 
bleached. 
decoloration (de-kul-o-ra'shon), H. [= F. di : - 
fiiloriilioii = Sp. decoloracion = Pg. decolorn- 
Cflo, < L. decoloration-), < dccolorare, deprive 
of color: see decolor.] 1. The act or process 
of decoloring or depriving of color. 2. Ab- 
sence of color; colorlessness. 
decomposition 
decolorize (dc-kul'iir-i/). '. t. \ prel. and pp. 
iti ntlin'i .< it, ppr. ilifnlni-i imf. [< //' - priv. + 
<-[r + -i,:i . Cf. ilii-iilni-iili-.] To deprive of 
color; bleach. Also spelled ,l,,-i,l,,n^ . ,!,,,,!- 
ouri:i, ilifiiloiirixi-. 
Tin- Mi-up is then whitened ! ,/ /,,,i ,./ l,\ llltering it 
tlirnngll a lint i if ' -.;il -- !'. ]><" <\- I > ! nin-i.il . li.u> ...i] 
./. /.' .V, ././.. fin, nle Sen nre, p. 9. 
decolorizer (de-kuror-i-/.er), B. That which 
decolori/.es. 
The dilti n nt coloring matters are retained III different 
degrees of intensity in the tissues .>i rell elrnients, in tin- 
M<e uf the individual K'unpsof dfcotitrizerii, such as 
alcohol, acetic acid, and glycerim . 
//"</'//'. l'.:n t< i ii'li^ieal InveKtigations (trans.), p. 46. 
decolour, decolourization, etc. See decolor, 
etc. 
decomplex (do'kom-pleks), a. [< de- + i-iini- 
jih't. 1 Kepeate3ly compound ; made up of 
complex constituents. 
Now the plethoric form of period, this i ster model 
of sentence, bloated with dfcmHjtirx intercalations, . . . 
is the prevailing model In newspafier eloquence. 
I), (jiiincttl, Htyle, I. 
Decomplex Idea. ec Men. 
/i'iiii. u term . . . signifying blanching or loss 
of the natural n-lnur of any object. //IHI/IV, Med. IMct. 
decolorimeter (de-knl-o-rim'e-ter), . [= F. 
ilt'i'ii/iiriiiiitri. < Ii. ill-color, adj., deprived of 
color, + Gr, /ifrpov, measure.] 1. An instru- 
ment for measuring the effects of bleaching- 
powder. 2. A graduated tube containing a 
solution of indigo and molasses, used to test 
the power of charcoal in a divided state in de- 
colorizing solutions. 
decolonization (de-kul'or-i-/.a'shon), w. [< de- 
i-nliiri;i- + -iiliiiii.] The act or process of de- 
priving of color; the process of blanching or 
bleaching. Also spelled decolorisation, decol- 
onr Million, ilii-oliHirixatioii. 
posable. 
The ready dectHujHutakitittt of vermilion . . . cannot be 
removed by Intling in potash. I',;, Diet., IV. 031. 
decomposable (de-kom-po'za-bl),. [= F. de- 
compoxable ; as decompose -able.] Capable 
of being decomposed or resolved into constitu- 
ent primary elements. 
Manifestly derinnponabte states of consciousness cannot 
exist before the states of consciousness out of which they 
are composed. //. Spencer, Education, p. 130. 
decompose (de-kom-pos')) i pret. and pp. de- 
composed, ppr. de'conij>osing. [= F. decomposer; 
as de- priv. + compose; cf. decompound.] L 
trans. To separate into its constituent parts ; 
resolve into its original elements ; specifically, 
to reduce (an organic body) to a state of disso- 
lution by a process of natural decay. 
In some preliminary experiment* it was found difficult 
to completely decompose cuprous oxide after it had been 
dried. Amer. Jour. Set., Whole No. cxxx. p. 50. 
Whatever be the origin of the electricity, the quantity 
of water decomponfd is proportional t" the quantity of 
electricity which passes. 
Atkiiumn, tr. of Mascart and Jouhert, I. 242. 
Decomposing furnace. See/limacr. 
II. intrans. To become resolved into con- 
stituent elements ; specifically, to decay; rot; 
putrefy. =8yn. Decay, Putrefy, etc. See rot. 
decomposed (de-kom-pozd' ), />. a. 1 . In a state 
of decomposition. 2. In ornith., separated: 
specifically said of a feather the web of which 
is decompounded by disconnection of the barbs, 
or of a bundle of feathers, as those of the crest, 
which stand or fall apart from one another: 
used like decompound in botany. 
decomposer (de-kom-po'zer), n. That which 
decomposes. 
The cinnabar may be brought Into intimate contact 
with its decmnimtfr. I're, Diet., III. 235. 
decomposite (de-kom-poz'it), a. and . [< 
LL. ill-coin IMIXI I us, formed from a compound, < 
dc- + compositus, compound, composite: see 
conilMisili'.] I. ii. 1. Compounded a second 
time ; compounded with things already com- 
posite. 2. In hot., same as decompound. 
U. . Anything compounded of composite 
things. 
Deoniifnntiten of three metals, or more, are too long to 
inquire of. Banm, Questions tintchiim Metals. 
<'omt>ounils wherein one element is compound are 
called i/ivii/n/wixi'/.'*. . . . The decomposite character of 
such words |as midshipman, gentlemanlike) is often con- 
cealed or disguised. Latham, Kng. Lang., 423. 
decomposition (de-kom-po-zish'on), H. [< F. 
ilccnni/ioxition = Sp. ilixciiiiipoxicion = Pg: de- 
compoxiijSo = It. ili'ci>m]ii>xi:ionc, < NL. "decom- 
IMixitio(ii-), < "decomponere, decompose : see de- 
conipiniiiil, ilcci'ii/iHisc.] 1. The act or process 
of separating the constituent elements of a 
compound body or substance ; analysis ; reso- 
lution ; specifically, the process of reducing an 
organic body to a state of decay or putrefac- 
tion. 
Having obtained oxygen and hydrogen by the ilrrotn- 
jH>*ittnn of water, it may naturally l)e inquired wheth, i 
tti. 'I- substances cannot in turn be decomposed. Tn this 
question it can ! simply replied that tile most skilful 
chemists have hitherto failed lo elf eel MthdMMipMMM. 
Htixley, Physiography, p. 105. 
2. The state of being decomposed or resolved; 
release from previous combinations ; disinte- 
gration ; specifically, decay of an organic body. 
