decussation 
decussation (de-ku-sa'shgn), w, [= F. decus- 
xtition = Sp. decusacion = Pg. foOMtaqSo, < L. 
deeuxitatio(H-), < decussare, cross: see -decussate.] 
1. The act of crossing or intersecting; an in- 
tersection ; the crossing of two lines, rays, fibers 
of nerves, etc. 
Though there be declaration of the rays in the pupil of 
the eye and so the image of the object in the retina . . . 
be inverted. Ray, Works of Creation. 
2. The state of being decussated, or that which 
decussates ; a chiasm. 
decussative (de-kus'a-tiv), a. [= V. decussatif; 
as decussate + -w.] ' Intersecting; crossing. 
Decmmtice diametrals, quincuiiciall lines and angles. 
Sir T. Browne, Gal-den of Cyrus, i. 
decussatively (de-kus'a-tiv-li), adv. Crosswise ; 
in the form of au X. 
decussis (de-kus'is), . ; pi. decusses (-ez). [L., 
< decent, = E. ten, + as (ass-), a copper coin, an 
as: see as*. Cf. decussate.] A large ancient 
copper coin, now very rare, of ten times the 
value of the as. See as 4 , and <KS grave, under 
CBS. It was current, in the third century B. C., in parts of 
Italy (apparently not in Rome) where the as was the mon- 
etary unit. The obverse type was a helmeted female head ; 
the reverse, the prow of a vessel. 
decussorium (de-ku-so'ri-um), n. ; pi. deoisso- 
ria (-a.). [NL., < L. decussare, divide cross- 
wise: see decussate.] In surg., an instrument 
used for depressing the dura mater after tre- 
phining, to facilitate the exit of substances 
effused on or under it. 
decyphert, '' * An obsolete form of decipher. 
dedam 1 !, *' [ME. dedainen, dedayiien, dedeintn, 
dedeynen, var. of desdainen, disdaineii, disdain: 
see disdain.] I. trans. To disdain. 
And we were faire and bright, 
Therefore me thoght that he 
The kynde of vs tane niyght, 
And ther-at dedeyned me. 
York Plays, p. 22. 
II. intrans. To be disdainful ; be displeased. 
The princis of prestis and scribis, seeynge the marucil- 
ouse thingis that he dicle, . . . dedeyiieden. 
Wyclif, Mat. xxi. 15. 
dedain 1 1, [ME., also dedayn, dedein, dedei/n, 
var. of desdain, disdain : see disdain.] Disdain. 
Hee [read him} was dedaine on his deede "Madame" to 
segge 
To any Ladie in lond, for lordlieh hee karpes. 
Alisaunder uj Macedoine (E. E. T. S.), 1. 584. 
dedain'-'t, " ' [ME. dedeynen, by confusion for 
deynen, deign: see deign, dedain 1 .] To deign. 
Thou art the way of oure redempcion, 
For Crist of the dedeynyt [so two MSS. ; one MS. has hath 
deiftwd] for to take 
Bothe flesche and blood. Chaucer, Mother of God, 1. 61. 
dedal, daedal (de'dal), a. [= F. dedale, n., = 
It. dedalo, a., < L. datdalus, < Or. 6aifiaAo(, also 
iaM'Acof, skilfully wrought (as a proper name 
Ao/daAof, L. Diedalus, a mythical artist), < Sai- 
c!<U/tiv, work skilfully, embellish.] 1. Display- 
ing artistic skill ; ingenious ; characterized by 
artistic qualities or treatment. 
Here ancient Art her diedal fancies play'd. 
T. Warton, Odes, iii. 
Pour forth heaven's wine, Idamn Ganymede, 
And let it fill the daalal cups like fire. 
Shelley, Prometheus Unbound, iii. 1. 
2. Artful; changing; inconstant; insincere. 
By truth's own tongue, 
I have no dredale heart : why is it wrung 
To desperation? Keats, Endymion, iv. 
3. Skilful; cunning. 
All were it Zeuxis or Praxiteles, 
His dcedale hand would faile and greatly faynt, 
And her perfections with his error taynt. 
Spenser, F. Q., Prol. Ui III. 
Also daidale. 
dedalian, daedalian (de-da'lian), a. [< dedal, 
diedal, + -ion.] Same as dedal. 
From time to time in various sort 
Dedalian Nature seems her to disport. 
Sylvester, tr. of Du Bartas's Weeks, ii., The Ark. 
Our bodies decked ill our d&dalian arms. Chapman. 
dedalous, dsedalous (ded'a-lus), a. [< L. daida- 
liis : see dedal.] Same as "dedal. 
dedeif, A Middle English form of deed. 
dede 2 t, a. and v. A Middle English form of. 
dead. 
dede 3 t. A Middle English form of did, preterit 
of rfoi. 
dedecoratet (de-dek'o-rat), v. t. [< L. dedeco- 
ratus, pp. of dedecorare (> Pg. dedecorar), dis- 
grace, dishonor, < de- priv. -f decorare, honor: 
see decorate.] To dishonor; disgrace. 
Why lett'st weake Wornies Thy head dedecorate 
With worthlesse briers, and flesh-transpiercing thorites? 
Dames, Holy Roode, p. 13. 
1494 
dedecorationt (de-dek-o-ra'shon), n. [< OF. 
drdworation, < LL. dedecoratio(n-), < L. dede- 
curiire : see dedecorate.] A disgracing or dis- 
honoring. JSailey. 
dedecoroust (de-de-ko'rus), a. [< L. dedecorus, 
LL. also dedecorbsus, dishonorable, disgrace- 
ful, < de- priv. + decorug, honorable : see deco- 
rous.] Disgraceful ; unbecoming. Ji(iil<-y. 
dedeint, dedeynt, '. See dedainl. 
dedentitiont (de-den-tish'on), . [< de- priv. 
+ dentition.] The shedding of teeth. 
Dedentlti'on or falling of teeth. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., iv. 12. 
dedes (de'des), . [Javanese.] An odorifer- 
ous substance procured from the rasse. 
dedicant (ded'i-kant), n. [< L. dediean(t-)s, 
ppr. of dedicare, dedicate. ] One who dedicates. 
The proper form of the dedication, the simple dative of 
the name of a divinity, ... is shown on the very primi- 
tive altars, . , . also the name of the dedicant*. 
Encyc. Brit., XIII. 127. 
dedicate (ded'i-kat), f. t. ; pret. and pp. dedi- 
i-nti'd, ppr. dedicating. [< L. dedicatus, pp. of 
dxlicare, consecrate, declare, proclaim, devote 
(> It. dedicare = Sp. Pg. dedicar = F. dedier = 
Dan. dedicere = Sw. dedicera), < de- + dicare, 
declare, proclaim, akin to dicere, say, tell, ap- 
point: see diction.] 1. To set apart and con- 
secrate to a deity or to a sacred purpose; de- 
vote to a sacred use by a solemn act or by re- 
ligious ceremonies. 
Joram brought . . . vessels of brass ; which also king 
David did dedicate unto the Lord. 2 Sam. viii. 10, 11. 
2. To devote with solemnity or earnest purpose, 
as to some person or end; hence, to devote, 
apply, or set apart in general. 
The bud bit with an envious worm, 
Ere he can spread his sweet leaves to the air, 
Or dedicate his beauty to the sun. Shak., R. and J., i. 1. 
To the face of peril 
Myself I'll dedicate. Shak., Cymbeline, v. 1. 
Many famous men have studied here, and dedicated 
themselves to the Muses. Con/at, Crudities, I. 129. 
We shall make no apology for dedicating a few pages 
to the discussion of that interesting and most important 
question. Macaulay. 
3. To inscribe or address (a literary or musi- 
cal composition) to a patron, friend, or public 
character, in testimony of respect or affection, 
or to recommend the work to his protection and 
favor : as, to dedicate a book. 
The ancient custom was to dedicate them [books] only 
to private and equal friends. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 36. 
These to His Memory since he held them dear . . . 
I dedicate, I consecrate with tears 
These Idylls. Tennyson, Idylls of the King, Ded. 
4. In law, to devote (property, as land) to pub- 
lic use.=Syn. Hee devote. 
dedicate (ded'i-kat), a. [ME. dedicat, < L. de- 
dicatus, pp.: see the verb.] Consecrated; de- 
voted ; appropriated. [Archaic or poetical.] 
Let no soldier fly : 
He that is truly dedicate to war 
Hath no self-love. Shak., 2 Hen. VI., v. 2. 
My praise shall be dedicate to the mind itself. 
Bacon, in Spedding, I. 123. 
A thing dedicate and appropriate unto God. Speiman. 
dedicatee (ded"i-ka-te'), n. [< dedicate + -ee 1 .] 
One to whom a thing is dedicated. [Bare.] 
As every dedication meant a present proportioned to 
the circumstances of the dedicatee, there was a natural 
temptation to be lavish of them. Encyc. Brit., VIII. 514. 
dedication (ded-i-ka'shon), n. [< OF. dedica- 
tion, dedicacion (also dedtcace, F. dedicace) = Sp. 
dedication = Pg. dedicacao = It. dedicazione = 
D. dedicatie = Dan. Sw. dedication, < L. dedi- 
catio(n-), dedication, < dedicare, dedicate: see 
dedicate.'] 1. The act of consecrating to a 
deity or to a sacred use with appropriate so- 
lemnities; a solemn appropriation or setting 
apart : as, the dedication of a church. 
And the children of Israel . . . kept the dedication of 
this house of God with joy. Ezra vi. 1(J. 
2. The act of devoting with solemnity or 
earnestness of feeling to any purpose. 3. 
The act of inscribing or addressing a literary 
or an artistic work to a patron, friend, or pub- 
lic character. 
Neither is the modern dedication of books and writings, 
as to patrons, to be commended. 
Bacon, Advancement of Learning, i. 36. 
4. An address prefixed to a literary or musical 
composition, inscribed to a patron, as a means 
of recommending the work to his protection 
and favor, or, as now usually, to a private 
friend or to a public character, as a mark of 
affection or respect. 
de domo reparando 
Proud as Apollo on his forked hill, 
Sate full-blown Bufo, putf'd by sorry quill ; 
Fed by soft detficutii>n all day long, 
Horace and he went hand in hand in song. 
Pope, Prol. to Satires, 1. 233. 
5. In law, a voluntary surrender or abandon- 
ment of property by the owner to public use, 
as of land, by consenting to the making of a 
highway upon it, or of an invention, by neglect 
to patent it Feast of the Dedication, a feast insti- 
tuted at the liberation of Jerusalem from the Syrians by 
Judas Maccabtens, about 165 B. c., in commemoration of the 
purification of the Temple and dedication of a new altar, 
after the pollution of the Temple and former altar by An- 
tiochus Epiphanes. See 1 Mac. iv. 43-f>9 ; 2 Mac. i. 18, x. 
3-8. Also called the Enccenia. = 8yn. 1 and 2. Consecra- 
tion, devotion. 3 and 4. Inscription. 
dedicator (ded'i-ka-tpr), . [= It. dedicatore, 
< LL. dedicator, < L. dedicare, dedicate: see 
dedicate.] One who dedicates ; specifically, 
one who inscribes a book to a patron, friend, 
or public character. 
Leave dangerous truths to unsuccessful satires, 
And flattery to fulsome dedicators. 
Pope, Essay on Criticism, 1. 593. 
cledicatorial (ded*i-ka-t6'ri-al), a. [< dedica- 
tory + -a/.] Same as dfilicniory. 
dedicatory (ded'i-ka-to-ri), . and n. [= F. de- 
d ifii hrire; as dedicate' + -ory.] I. K. Of the 
nature of a dedication ; serving as a dedication. 
An epistle dedicatory. 
Dryden, Love's Triumph, Ep. Ded. 
Il.t n. A dedication. 
Neere a kin to him who set forth a passion sermon, w ith 
a formall dedicatory in great letters to our Saviour. 
Milton, Apology for Smectymnuus. 
dedicaturet (ded'i-ka-tur), . [< dedicate + 
-ure.] The act of dedicating ; dedication. 
dedimus (ded'i-mus), n. [< L. dedimus, we 
have given, 1st pers. pi. perf. hid. act. of dare, 
give: see date 1 .] In law, a writ to commis- 
sion one who is not a judge to do some act in 
place of a judge, as to examine a witness, etc. 
The Latin form of the writ began "Dediinus 
potestatem," we have given power. 
dedit (da-de'), . [F.] In French and French- 
Canadian law, the sum stipulated as a penalty 
for breach of contract. 
deditiont (de-dish'on), n. [< L. deditio(n-), < 
dedere, give up, surrender, devote, < de, away, 
+ dare, give: gee date 1 .] The act of yielding 
anything; surrender. 
It was not a complete conquest, but rather a dftliii<:>< 
iipmi terms and capitulations agreed between the con- 
queror and the conquered. 
Sir M. Hale, Hist. Com. Law of Eng. 
dedititiancy (ded-i-tish'ian-si), . [< L. dedi- 
ticius, dedititius, belonging to a surrender, as 
n., a captive (< dedere, pp. deditus, give up, sur- 
render: see dedition), + -aiicy.] In early Bom. 
law, the condition or status of the lowest class 
of freedmen, who were not admitted to full 
citizenship because of misconduct during their 
condition of slavery. 
dedlyt, a. and adv. An obsolete spelling of 
deadly. 
dedo '(da'do), n. [Sp. Pg., a finger, finger- 
breadth, < L. digitw, a finger: see digit.] A 
Spanish and Portuguese long measure; a finger- 
breadth. The Spanish measure is about ffi, of an English 
inch ; the Portuguese measure equals /A of an English 
inch. 
dedolation (ded-o-la'shon), w. [= F. dedola- 
liaii, < NL. dedolatio(n-), < L. dedolare, hew 
away, < de, away, + dolare, hew, chip with an 
ax.] The action by which a cutting instrument 
divides obliquely any part of the body and 
produces a wound accompanied by loss of sub- 
stance. Wounds by dedolation most frequently 
occur on the head. Dunylison. 
dedolentt (ded'o-lent), a. [< L. dedolen(t-)s, 
ppr. of dedolere', cease to grieve, < de- priv. + 
dolere, grieve : see dolt' 2 .] Feeling no sorrow 
or compunction. 
Wlien once the criterion or perceptive faculty has lost its 
tenderness and sensibility, and the mind becomes repro- 
bate, then darkness and light, good and evil, ... are all 
one. Then . . . men are ileiMent mid past feeling. 
llallyuvil, Saving of Souls, p. 114. 
No men [are] so accursed with indelible infamie and 
dedolent impenitcncy as Authors of Heresie. 
N. Wanl, Simple Colder, p. 22. 
de domo reparando (de do'mo rep-a-ran'do). 
[L., for the repairing of a building: de, of; 
tiniuo, abl. of domus, a house, building; repa- 
riniilo, abl. ger. of n-i>ar(ire, repair : see repair 1 .] 
A writ issued at common l;i\v at the suit of an 
owner against his neighbor whose house he 
fears will fall, to the damage of his own, or 
against his co-tt-uaut to compel him to share 
