destructibility 
destructibility (ilv-stnik-ti-hii'i-ti), n. [=Sp. 
ilfxli'iictihiliiliiil I'";, fjettructibilidadf ; MS il, 
structiblc + -ily.] The quality of being capable 
of di'st nil-lion. 
destructible (<le-struk'ti-bl), a. [= F. destruc- 
lililr = It. ili*/ru</i/ihilr, < LL. ilix/nictihi/ix, < L. 
dcstructus, pp. of r/V wn y , destroy.] Liable to 
destruction; capable of being destroyed. 
'rherefore forms, qllalili 
by composition. ,l<:<t,-i'<-l,f<l'- liy ilissohltioil. 
.1. Turk.,; l.ixlitof Nature, II. I. 2. 
destructibleness (de-Ktruk'ti-bl-nes), w. The 
quality of being destructible. 
destructilet, " l< LL. </>..//<-, ,,/., destructi- 
ble, <L. dcsiriii-tns, pp. of ili'struert, destroy: see 
destroy.] That may bo destroyed; destructible. 
Bailey, 1727. 
destruction (do-struk'shon), il. [< ME. destruc- 
tion, destrucciim, drslriicciouu, < OF. dislriicliini, 
also destruinon, F. destruction = Sp. destruccion 
= Pg. destrui^So = It. distruzione, < L. destruc- 
tio(n-), a pulling down, destroying, < dcslrm r< , 
pp. destructus, pull down, destroy : see destroy.] 
li The act of destroying; demolition; a pull- 
ing down, as of a building ; subversion or over- 
throw, as of a government or a principle ; ruin, 
as of a town, a crop, reputation, virtue, etc.: 
annihilation or deprivation of existence, as of 
a man or a forest. 
And 5 myle fro Sarphcn is the Cytee of Sydon : of the 
wliiclu- Citee Dydo was Lady, that was Eneas Wyf aftre 
the Deitmccioun of Troye. Mandeottle, Travels, p. 30. 
The messagers of Cornewailo and of Orcanye com to hem 
and toldehem the losse anil the dittnuriunol the Sarazins 
that dide thourgh ther loudcs. Merlin(E. E. T. S.), 11. 172. 
There was a deadly destruction throughout all the city. 
1 Sam. v. 11. 
If material equality is ever to be secured at all, it will 
be secured only by the destruction of civilization, not 
by any distribution of the liner existing fruits of it. 
If. II. ifallock, Social Equality, p. 39. 
2. The state of being destroyed ; ruin. 
When that which we Immortal thought, 
We saw so near destruction brought, 
We felt what you did then endure, 
And tremble yet, as not secure. Waller. 
Such longings, as she knew, 
To swift destruction all her glory drew. 
William Morris, Earthly 1'aradlse, III. 114. 
8. Cause of destruction ; a consuming plague or 
ruinous infliction ; a destroyer. 
The dcxtrm-tioii that wasteth at noon-day. Ps. xcl. 6. 
The destruction of the poor is their poverty. Prov. x. 15. 
= Syn. 1 and 2. Overthrow, desolation, extirpation, eradi- 
cation, extermination, extinction, devastation, 
destructionist (de-struk'shon-ist), . [< de- 
struction + -1st.'] 1. One who favors or en- 
gages in destruction ; a destructive. 
An Anarchist may or may not be a destructionist revo- 
lutionistthough most of them are. 
A'. A. Rer., OXI.III. 204. 
2. In theol., one who believes in the final com- 
plete destruction or annihilation of the wicked ; 
an annihilationist. 
destructive (de-struk'tiv), . and . [= F. de- 
strnctif = Pr. (testntctiu = Sp. Pg. dcstructico = 
It. distruttii-o, < LL. destructirus, < L. destruetus, 
ip. of dfstrin-rc, destroy: see destroy.] I. . 
. Causing destruction ; having a tendency to 
destroy or the quality of destroying ; ruinous ; 
mischievous ; pernicious ; hurtful : with of or 
to before an object : as, a destructire fire ; a de- 
xtructit'c disposition ; intemperance is destruc- 
tire of health ; evil examples are destructive to 
the morals of youth. 
Rewards that either would to virtue bring 
No joy, or be destructive o/ the thing. 
Pope, Essay on Man, iv. i v:. 
Now I myself, 
A Tory to the quick, was as a Iwy 
ZMrtuMn, when I had not what I would. 
Tenniitoii. Walking to the Mail. 
2. In logir, refuting; disproving: as, a deatriic- 
lirr dilemma. -Destructive dilemma. See 
ma. Destructive distillation, si-e i/iw,i/nni. De- 
structive hypothetical syllogism, see l,ii,a>ihrtical. 
= Syn. 1. Mortal, deadly, fatal, malignant, Iwleful, fell, 
deleterious, desolating, sobvershc. 
II. n . ( )ne who or that which destroys ; one 
who favors the destruction of anything for 
some ulterior purpose, as progress or public 
convenience ; an overthrower of existing insti- 
tutions, customs, or the like. 
Applying to ca, -bother what ttcuthniu would have called 
the dyslogistic names of the day, Anarchist, Detti 
and the like. Fiuiay, Hist Greece. 
Notwithstanding his skeptlcism.Ockam is not an extreme 
destructive. J. Owen, Kvi ninns with skeptics, II. 400. 
destructively (de-struk'tiv-li), </r. With de- 
struction; ruinously; mischievouslv; with pow- 
er to destroy. 
00 
S 
1569 
What remains but to breathe out MOM'S wish? n that 
men uere nnt so ./. .! rr, '',,; -h/ foolish! 
Decay of Christian I ''>, 
The doctrine that states the time of repentance destruc- 
(turfy to a pious life. ,S'>.H//I, Sermons, VII. vL 
destructiveness (de-struk'tiv-nes). M. 1. The 
quality of being destructive ; tendency to de- 
stroy or ruin. 2. In pin-en., tin- tendency to 
destroy or overthrow, supposed to be located 
in a special organ of the brain. See cut under 
destructor (do-struk'tor), w. [= F. deslructeur 
= Pr. destruydor = Sp. Pg. destruidor = It. de- 
xtruttore, < LL. destructor, a destroyer, < L. de- 
slruere, pp. destructtts, destroy: see destroy.] 
If. A destroyer; a consumer. 
Belmont doth somewhere wittily call the fire the de- 
structor and the artificial death of things. 
Boyle, Works, I. 527. 
2. Specifically, a furnace or crematory for the 
burning of refuse. 
Bearing in mind the undeslrabillty of filling up hollows 
with refuse, and subsequently erecting buildings upon it, 
the destructor becomes a most desirable means of dealing 
with it. A. Uill, Sanitarian, XVII. 35. 
destruiet, <. '. A Middle English form of de- 
ting* 
desudation (des-u-da'shon), n. [= F. de'suda- 
tiim = Pg. desudacj&o, < LL. desudatio(n-), a vio- 
lent sweating, < L. desudare ( > It. desudare = Sp. 
ili-xinlar), pp. desudatus, sweat greatly, < de- in- 
tensive + sudare, sweat, = E. sweat, q. v.] In 
med., a profuse or morbid sweating, frequently 
causing or accompanied by sudamina or heat- 
pimples. 
desudatoryt (de-su'dft-to-ri), . [< NL. *desu- 
datorium, < L. desudare, sweat : see desudation.] 
A sweating-bath. Bailey, 1727. 
desuete (des-wef), a. [< L. desuetus, pp. of 
desuescere, disuse, put out of use, grow out of 
use, < de- priv. -I- suescere, inceptive of suere, 
be used, be accustomed.] Out of use ; fallen 
into desuetude. [Rare.] 
desuetude (des'we-tud), n. [= F. desuetude 
= It. desuetudine, dissuetudine, < L. desuetudo, 
disuse, < desuescere, pp. desuetus, disuse: see 
desuete.] Discontinuance of use, practice, cus- 
tom, or fashion; disuse: as, many words in 
every language have fallen into desuetude. 
The laws give place, and . . . disappear by desuetude. 
Jer. Taylor, Works (ed. 1835), I. 279. 
The gradual desuetude of old observances. 
Lamb, Ella, p. 82. 
After the fourteenth century, the practice of cathedral 
architecture of the old kind fell fast into desuetude. 
C. E. Sortoa, Travel and Study in Italy, p. 103. 
Of every form of sad desuetude and picturesque decay 
Haddon 1 1 all contains some delightful example. 
//. James, Jr., Trans. Sketches, p. 28. 
desulphur (de-sul'fer), v. t. [= F. desulfurer; 
as de- priv. -t- sulphur.] To free from sulphur; 
desulphurize. 
A yellow tinge, which is deeper when the wool has pre- 
viously been de. sulphured. 
W. Crookes, Dyeing and Calico-printing, p. 85. 
desulphurate (de-sul'fu-rat), r. t. ; pret. and 
pp. dcsulphtirated, ppr. desulphurating. [< de- 
priv. + si/liilntr + -ate 2 .] Same as desulphurize. 
desulphuration (de-sul-fu-ra'shon), n. [= F. 
ili'xitlfuratioH ; as desulphurate -t- -ion.] Same 
as drsulplinrization. 
desulphureted, desulphuretted (de-sul'fu-ret- 
ed), a. [< de- priv. + sulphuret + -ed 2 .] ' De- 
prived of sulphur. 
The desulphuretted soda makes the best white-curd soap 
Un, Diet, III. 847. 
desulphurization (de-sul'ffi-ri-za'shon), fi. 
[< desulphurize + -ation.] Tne act or process 
of depriving (an ore, a mineral, etc.) of sulphur. 
desulphurize (de-sul'fu-riz), r. t. ; pret. and pp. 
desulphurized, ppr. desulphurizing. [< de-priv. 
+ sulphur + -tze.] To free from sulphur; re- 
move the sulphur from (an ore, a mineral, etc.) 
by some suitable process : as, iron ores contain- 
ing pyrites may be desulphurized by roasting; 
coke may be desulphurized by heating to redness 
in a current of steam. 
desultorily (des'ul-to-ri-li), adv. In a des- 
ultory or random manner; without method; 
loosely. 
M inil or consciousness is supposed to follow, desultorily 
and accidentally, after matter of fact 
in shairp s culture and Religion, p. 187. 
desultoriness (des'ul-to-ri-nes), n. The char- 
acter of being desultory; disconnectedness; 
discursiveness: as, the desultoriness of a speak- 
er's remarks. 
detach 
It Is customary to reproach tin natives of Oceania with 
invincible indolence; and, if it be a fault, I fear they 
in'i-t I.e ci'im.te.l ,.t ,i:Knit,:,-i,i'ss and unsteadiness In 
tbcir work. /,,. ,Sri'. M,,., XXX. 204. 
desultorioust (di-s-ul-to'ri-us), a. [< L. desul- 
turitis : see ilrsiiltnri/. ] Desultory. ,lir. Taylor, 
desultory (<les'ul-t'o-ri), . [< L. dexultorius, 
of or pertaining to a vaultcr or circus-rider, 
inconstant, fickle, < desultor, a vaulter, circus- 
rider, who leaped from horse to horse without 
stopping, < desilire, pp. destiltus, leap down, < 
de, down, + salire, leap: see salient.] 1. 
Leaping; hopping about; moving irregularly. 
[Archaic.] 
It was amazing that the desultory and rapid motions of 
this dam should not oblige her litter to quit their hold. 
Gilbert White, Nat. Hist, of Selborne. 
2._ Swerving from point to point; irregularly 
shifting in course ; devious : as, desultory move- 
ments ; a desultory saunter. 
The broken surface of the ground . . . was peculiarly 
favorable to the desultory and illusory tactics of the Moorn. 
Pracott, Ferd. and Isa., L 14. 
Thenceforth their uncoinmunlcable ways 
Follow the desultory feet of Death. 
/'. (J. Rossetti, Sonnets, xxx., Known In Vain. 
3. Veering about from one thing to another; 
whiffling; unmethodical ; irregular; disconnect- 
ed: as, a desultory conversation. 
lie knew nothing accurately ; his reading had been des- 
ulton/. Macaulay, Oliver Goldsmith. 
To turn these momenta to any profit at all, we must re- 
ligiously methodize them. Desultory reading and desul- 
tory reverie are to be forever abandoned. 
R. Choate, Addresses, p. 212. 
Desultory research, however it may amuse or benefit 
the investigator, seldom adds much to the real stock of 
human knowledge. 
Stubbs, Medieval and Modem Hist. p. 41. 
4. Coming suddenly, as if by leaping into 
view ; started at the moment ; random. 
"I'is not for a desultory thought to atone for a lewd 
course of life, nor for anything but the super-Inducing of 
a virtuous habit upon a vicious one, to qualify an effectual 
conversion. sir R. L'Estrange. 
Syn. 2 and 3. Rambling, roving, unsystematic, irregu- 
lar. See irrettular. 
desumet (de-sum'), v. t. [< L. desumere, pick 
out, choose, take upon oneself, < de, from, + 
sumire, take : see assume, consume, etc.] To 
take from ; borrow. 
Tills pebble doth suppose, as pre-existent to It, the more 
simple matter out of which It Is drsuiaed. 
Sir M. Hale, Orlg. of Mankind, p. 76. 
desynonymization (de-si-non'i-mi-za'shon), w. 
[< desynonymize + -ation.] The act or process 
by which synonymous words come to oe dis- 
criminated in meaning and use ; the differenti- 
ation of words. Coleridge. 
desynonymize (de-si-non'i-mlz), r. t. ; pret. and 
pp. detynonymized, ppr. desynonymizing. [< dc- 
priv. + synonymi:e.] To deprive of synony- 
mous character, as words of similar meaning ; 
differentiate in signification ; discriminate (sy- 
nonymous words or phrases). Also spelled <<- 
xynonymise. 
The process of desy iwnymizing, . . . that is, of gradually 
coming to discriminate in use between words which have 
hitherto 1 iceii accounted perfectly equivalent, and, as such, 
indifferently employed. 
Akp. Trench, Study of Words, p. 178. 
In an eloquent, review of Qoethes I/eben, by Prof. 
Klackie, . . . thoe two forms | egoism and egotism I are 
thus desynonymiad. A", and Q., 8th ser., IX. 426. 
dett (det), n. A Middle English and early mod- 
ern English form of debt. 
detach (de-tach'), r. [First in the military 
sense; < F. detacher, OF. destacher, destaehier, 
destechier (= Pr. Sp. Pg. destacar = It. distac- 
care), detach, separate ; unfasten, < des- priv. 
+ -taclier, fasten, only in this verb and its op- 
posite attacher: see attach.] I. trans. 1. To 
unfasten; disunite; disengage and separate, as 
one thing from another : as, to detach a locomo- 
tive from a train; to detach a rock from its 
bed; to detach the seal from a document; to 
detach a man from his party. 
Thus tragedy was gradually detached from its original 
Institution, which was entirely religious. 
Goldsmith, Origin of Poetry. 
The ingenuity of man has always been dedicated to the 
solution of one problem how to detach the sensual 
sweet, the sensual strong, the sensual bright, etc., from 
the moral sweet, the moral deep, the moral fair. 
Kinrrfon. Compensation. 
Sever once does he detach his eye 
From those ranged there to slay him or to save. 
Brotcning, Ring and Book, I. 36. 
2. To separate for a special purpose or service ; 
send away, as from a post of duty or a larger 
body, on a distinct mission : chiefly in military 
use : as, to detach a ship or a regiment for some 
