descent 
scent. " "/;(/:. Collateral descent, descent from a 
collateral relative, as frnm hrolher or sister, uncle or aunt. 
Descent cast, in/<i"' T the de volution of all estate in land 
upon the heir ill Ihi- ileutll of the ancestor or possessor; 
descent whii-li Inn apparently taken effect. The up. -i i:tl 
siiiliillraih e of the term, a.s contrasted with i/csiviif, is in 
its ii-' lo depilate the devolution of an estate of inherit- 
:in rl;iini< d liy the heirs of a wrongful |K>.ssessor. While 
the wrongful |H>sses.sor lived, the rightful owner coulil 
enter :e-;iiji-t him. Alter his death, the right of entry 
was tmid to lie tolled, or taken away, because not allnualtle 
after descent ciwt. Descent of bodies, in mrch., their 
motion or tendency toward the center of the earth, either 
directly or obliquely alon^ inclined planes or curves. The 
curve of swiftc.,1 descent is the cycloid. Descent Of 
BOUlS, the supposed entrance of preexistent souls into 
their bodies. Descents Into the ditch, cuts and exca- 
vations made by means of saps in the counterscarp beneath 
the covered way. WiUtelm, Mil. Diet. - Distillation by 
descent, in '"'-' them., a mode of distillation in which the 
fire was applied at the top and around the vessel, hose 
orifice was at the bottom, by which means the vapors were 
made to distil downward. In descent, in her., in the act 
or attitude of descending : thus, a lion I'M descent ia one rep- 
resented with tlie hind legs in one corner of the chief, 
and t In- head and fore paws in the diagonally opposite 
corner of the base. Lineal descent, descent from father 
to son, through successive generations. = Syn. 2. Gradient, 
grade. 3. Debasement. 4. Foray, raid. 6. Generation, 
parentage, derivation. 
descloizite (da-cloi'zit), n. [After A. L. O. 
l)m_ Cliii-ciinx, a, French mineralogist (born 
1S17).] A rare vauadate of lead and zinc, oc- 
curring in small black or dark-brown crystals. 
It is related in form and composition to the copper phos- 
phate liiiei nenii .. and is found in the Argentine Republic, 
:>IH| in various localities in Arizona and New Mexico. 
describable (des-kri'ba-bl), a. [< describe + 
-able.] That may be" described; capable of 
description. 
Keith has reckoned up in the human body four hundred 
and forty-six muscles, dissectible and describable. 
Palty, Nat. Theol., Ix. 
describe (des-krlV), r. ; pret. and pp. described, 
ppr. describing. [Earlier descrire (the form 
describe being a reversion to the L. form), < ME. 
descriven, descreven (see descrive), < OF. de- 
scrivre, contr. descrire, F. decrire = Pr. de- 
scriure = Sp. describir = Pg. descrever = It. de- 
scrivere, < L. describere, copy off, transcribe, 
sketch off, describe in painting or writing, < de, 
off, + scribere, write: see scribe and snn're.j 
1. trans. 1. To delineate or mark the form or 
figure of ; trace out ; outline : as, to describe a 
circle with the compasses. 
lie that would hane a sight of these things, let him re- 
sort to Thomaso Porcacchi his ! iincrali Antichi, where 
these things are not only discoursed in words, but de- 
tcribed in artificial! pictures. I'wchas, Pilgrimage, p. 396. 
2. To form or trace by motion : as, a star de- 
scribes an ellipse in the heavens. 
The bucket, which was a substitute for the earth, de- 
scribing a circular orbit round about the globular head 
and ruby visage of Professor Von Poddlngcoft, which 
formed no bad representation of the sun. 
Irving, Knickerbocker, p. 39. 
3f. To write down ; inscribe. 
His name was dexcribed in the book of life. 
Je r. Taylor, Works (cd. 1835), I. 262. 
4. To represent orally or by writing ; portray 
in words ; give an account of : as, to describe 
a person or a scene ; to describe a battle. 
Similes are like songs in love : 
They much describe ; they nothing prove. 
Prior, Alma, ill. 
There are no hooks which I more delight in than in 
travels, especially those that tlfsn ->>>' remote countries. 
Addison, Frozen Words. 
6f. To distribute into classes or divisions; di- 
vide for representation. 
The men went and passed through the laud, and de- 
scribed it by cities into seven part* in a book. 
Josh, xviii. 9. 
= Syn. 4. Describe, Narrate, portray, explain. Describe 
applies primarily to what exist* space, and by extension 
to hut nivtii - time, hut mirrittf applies only to the lat- 
ter : as, to describe a view, a race, or a siege ; to narrate 
an experience or a history. Describe implies often the 
vividness of personal observation; narrate is more appli- 
cable to long series of events. A single narrative may 
contain many descriptions of separate events. 
He Is described as a mighty warrior, wielding preter- 
natural powers. N. A. Ken., CXL. 832. 
Illustrating the events which they narrated by the 
philosophy of a more enlightened age. 
Macaulay, History. 
II. intrans. To make descriptions; use the 
power of describing. 
describent (des-kri ; bent), n. [< L. dcseribcn(t-)s, 
ppr. of di-ncrib<rc, describe: see describe.] In 
;/''!., the line or surface from the motion of 
which a surface or a solid is supposed to be gen- 
erated or described. 
dftiCrfber (des-kri'ber), . One who describes 
or depicts by words or signs. 
1557 
Seven of these stones [of the burnt pillar) now remain, 
though an exact dencriber of Constantinople says there 
were eight. /'..;.<, IX-.M ription of the rust, II. II. 131. 
Our chronicler (the author of the book of Genesis) does 
not profess to be a zoologist, but only an observer and 
descritier of a passing scein 
Boardman, Creative Week, p. 1 57. 
deserter (des-kri'er), n. [< descry + -crl.] 
One who discovers or comes in sight of; a dis- 
coverer; a detector. 
Streams closely sliding, erring in and out. 
But seeming pleasant to the fond descrier. 
Quarles, Emblems, iv. 2. 
description (des-krip'shou), n. [< ME. de- 
scription, description!!, < OF. description, de- 
scription, descrition.descrision, F. description = 
Sp. description = Pg. dcscripcSo = It. descri- 
-i(c, < L. descriptio(n-), a marking out, de- 
lineation, copy, transcript, representation, de- 
scription, < describere, pp. descriptus, describe : 
see (k'scribe.] 1. The act of delineating or de- 
picting; representation by visible lines, marks, 
colors, etc. 
The description is either of the earth and water both 
together, and it is done by circles, or of the water con- 
sidered by Itself ; and is not so much a description of that, 
as of the mariner's course upon it, or to show the way of 
a ship upon the sea. J. Gregory, Posthuma, p. 257. 
2. The act of representing a thing by words 
or signs, or the account or writing containing 
such representation ; a statement designed to 
make known the appearance, nature, attri- 
butes, accidents, or incidents of anything: as, 
a description of a house or of a battle. 
The seventh species of Imperfect definition consists of 
a coacervation or heaping up of circumstances and com- 
mon adjuncts. And this is properly a description; al- 
though use has now obtained that every imperfect defini- 
tion be called a descriptwn. For example : Man is a two- 
footed animal uncovered with hair or feathers, of an erect 
countenance, and endued with hands: which formula of 
definition is used by historians and poets in the description 
of persons, facts, places, and the like singular tilings. 
Buryergdiciux, tr. by a Gentleman. 
The poet makes a most excellent description of it. 
Shot., Hen. V., ill. . 
For her own person, 
It beggar'd all description. Shot., A. and ('., II. 2. 
Milton has fine descriptions of morning. D. Webster. 
Firdusi's . . . great work abounds throughout In bold 
and animated descriptions, and in certain portions rises 
to the highest sublimity. A'. A. Ken., CXL. 332. 
3. The qualities expressed in a representation ; 
the combination of qualities which go to con- 
stitute a class or an individual, and would be 
mentioned in describing it ; hence, a variety ; 
sort; kind. 
Double six thousand, and treble that, 
Before a friend of this description 
Shall lose a hair through Bassanio's fault 
Shot., M. of V., III. 2. 
The plates were all of the meanest description. 
Macaulay. 
He had received from Shelley, as a token of remem* 
brance, the manuscript of three tales. . . . "They were 
of a very wild and romantic description," he adds, " but 
full of energy." E. Doinden, Shelley, I. 94. 
The entertainment is said by the press throughout the 
country to be of the most interesting description. 
Washington Chronicle. 
Organic description of curves. See curve. =8yn. 2. 
Relation, narrative, etc. (see account), delineation, por- 
trayal, sketch. 3. Sort, cast, quality, 
descriptive (des-krip'tiv), a. [= F. descrintif 
= Sp. Pg. descriptifo = It. descrittii'o, < LL. 
descriptirus, < L. descriptus, pp. of describere, 
describe: see describe.] Containing descrip- 
tion ; serving or aiming to describe ; having the 
quality of representing: as, a descriptive dia- 
gram; a descriptive narration. 
Descriptive names of honour, . . . arising during early 
militancy, become in some cases official names. 
a. Spencer, Prill, of Sociol., 400. 
Descriptive anatomy, anthropology, astronomy. 
.See the nouns. Descriptive bOOk("'M.), arecord-book 
of a military company, containing descriptive lists of its 
men, also generally a record of the officers who have served 
with it. Descriptive botany. See botany. Descrip- 
tive definition, in logic. See definition. Descriptive 
geography, geometry, etc. See the nouns. Descrip- 
tive list, (a) Naval, a report or return made out when 
men in the United States naval service are discharged, 
or transferred from one tship to another. In it are noted 
the previous service and a personal description of each 
man. (6) Milit., a short military history of each enlisted 
man, with a description of his person, and an abstract 
of his account with the government. II*. S.) Descrip- 
tive muster-roll, see, iutrr-ruU. Descriptive (op- 
posed to metrical) property or proposition, in geom., 
usually denned to oe a property or proposition which 
can be stated without Introducing the idea of magni- 
tude. But it would be better to say that it is a property 
or proj)i^ili"ii which relates to the incidence or coinci- 
dence of points, lines, and other geometrical elements, in 
general, or that it is one which does not depend upon the 
particular system of measurement adopted. Thus, the 
desecrate 
proposition that two triangles are eimal if a side and two 
of the one arc equal to the i in-responding side and 
angles oi the other, may be regarded as d -< i iptive ; while 
tii, proportion [hat through any jroint in space a single 
parallel to a given line can be drawn, is indisputably met- 
rical, not descriptive. 
\Ve have in the plane a special line, the line Infinity; 
and on this line two special (imaginary) points, the circu- 
lar points at inhnity. A geometrical theorem has either 
no relation to the sjiecial line and points, and it is then 
descriptive ; or it has a relation to them, and It is then 
metrical. Salmon. 
descriptively (des-krip'tiv-li), adv. By de- 
scription; so as to delineate or represent. 
descriptiveness (des-krip'tiv-nes), n. The 
character or quality of being descriptive. 
descrive (des-kriv ), t>. t. ; pret. and pp. de- 
scrired, ppr. datcriring. [< ME. descriren, de- 
screcen, < OF. descrivre, < L. describere, describe : 
see describe, which has taken the place in E. of 
the older descrive.] To describe. [Old Eng. 
and Scotch.] 
Thenne cam Oouetyse, Ich can nat hym diteryue, 
So hongerllche and so holwe. 
Piers Plowman (C), vll. 198. 
How shall fraylo pen descrire her heavenly face? 
Sjie liter, F. Q., II. III. 25. 
Let me fair nature's face describe. 
Burns, To William Simpson. 
descry (des-kri'), v. t.; pret. and pp. descried, 
ppr. descrying. [< ME. descryen, discryen, < 
OF. descrier, decryer, proclaim, announce, cry, 
v/r * i"-*ti"i, uecryvrj piucitniii, unii LUC, u/j 
< des-, de-, + crier, cry : see cry, and cf . decry. 
The word seems to have been partly confused 
in ME. with descrire, q. v.] If. To proclaim; 
announce; make known. 
Harowdes [heralds] of annes than they went 
For to dyscrye thys turnament 
In eche iondys sende. Sir Eylamour, 1. 1177. 
And senne we on this wise 
Sehall his counsaile discrie, 
Itt nedls we vs avise, 
That we saye nojt sercly. 
York Plays, p. 480. 
He would to him descrie 
Great treason to him meant. 
Spenser, V. Q., VI. vll. 12. 
His Purple Robe he had thrown aside, lest it should 
descry him, unwilling to be found. Milton, Hist. Eng., II. 
2. To detect; find out; discover (anything con- 
cealed). 
Of the king they got a sight after dinner In a gallery, 
and of the queen-mother at her own table ; In neither 
place descriied, no, not by Cadinet, who had teen lately 
ambassador in England. Sir //. Wottun. 
When she saw herself descried, she wept 
Burton, Anat. of Mel., p. 447. 
3f. To spy out ; explore ; examine by observa- 
tion. 
The house of Joseph sent to descry Beth-el. 
Judges I. 23. 
It is the soul that sees ; the outward eyes 
Present the object, but the mind descries. 
Crabbe, Works, IV. 211. 
4. To discover by vision ; get a sight of; make 
out by looking: as, the lookout descried land. 
I descry 
Figures of men that crouch and creep unheard, 
And bear away the dead. Bryant, The Fountain. 
But, on the horizon's verge descried, 
Hangs, touch 'd with light, one snowy sail ! 
M. Arnold, .stanzas composed at Carnac. 
Cannot memory still descry the old school -house and Its 
porch, somewhat hacked by jack-knives, where you spun 
tops and snapped marbles? Kinerson, Works and Days. 
There are Albanian or Dalmatian heights from which it 
is said that, In unusually favourable weather, the Oarga- 
nian peninsula may be descried. 
X. A. Freeman, Venice, p. 316. 
descry t (des-kri'), . [<dfscry, .] Discovery; 
something discovered. [Kare.] 
Edg. But, by your favour. 
How near's the other army t 
Gent. Near, and on speedy foot ; the main dcrcry 
Stands on the hourly thought. Shot:., Lear, IT. 6. 
desecrate (des'e-krat), r. t. ; pret. and pp. dese- 
crated, ppr. desecrating. [< L. as if "desecratus, 
pp. of *desecrare (> It. distiucrare, dissagrare = 
OF. F. dessacrer), desecrate, < de- priv. + sa- 
crare, make sacred, < sacer, sacred: see sacred; 
formed as the opposite of consecrate. There is 
a rare LL. desecrare, desacrare, with the posi- 
tive sense ' consecrate,' < L. de- intensive + 
sacrare, make sacred.] To divest of sacred or 
hallowed character or office; divert from a sa- 
cred purpose or appropriation ; treat with sacri- 
lege; profane; pollute. 
The Russian clergy cannot suffer corporal punishment 
without being previously desecrated. Toote. 
Why should we desecrate noble and beautiful souls by 
intruding on them? Emerson, Essays, 1st ser., p. 192. 
