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DETRAC'TION, f. [detrattio, Lat. detrattion , Fr.] 
Detrattion, in the native importance of the word, dignifies 
the withdrawing or taking off from a thing ; and, as it 
is applied to the reputation, it denotes the impairing or 
lelfening a man in point of fame, tendering him lefs va- 
Jued and efleemed by others, which is the final aim of 
del ration. Ayliffe. 
Fame, that her high birth to raife 
Seem’d erd fo lavifh and profufe, 
We may jufijy now accufe 
Of detrattion from her praife. Milton. 
DETRAC'TOR, f. [from detraho, Lat. to draw.] In 
anatomy, it is applied to a mufcle, wliofe office is to 
draw, the part to which it is attached. 
DETRAC'TORY, adj. Defamatory by denial of de- 
fert ; derogatory. Sometimes with to, properly from. —■ 
This is not only derogatory unto the wifdom of God, but 
alfo detrattojry unto the intellect and fenfe of man. Browne. 
•—In mentioning the joys of heaven, I ufethe expreflions 
I find lefs detrattoryfrom a theme above our praifes. Boyle. 
•—The detrattory lye takes from a great man the reputa¬ 
tion that judly belongs to him. Arbuthnot. 
DETR A'CTRESS,/. A cenforious woman.—If any 
ihall detract from a lady’s character, unlefs (lie be ab- 
fent, the laid detrattrefs fhall be forthwith ordered to the 
lowed place.of the room. Addifon. 
DE'TRJMENT,/. [detrimentum, Lat.] Lofs ; damage; 
mifehief; diminution ; harm.—Let a family burn but a 
candle a night lefs than the ufual number, and they may 
take in this work witiiout detriment to their private af¬ 
fairs. Addifon. 
DETRIMENTAL, adj. Mifchievous ; harmful; 
earning lofs.—Obdinacy in prejudices, which -axo. detri¬ 
mental to our country, ought not to be midaken for vir¬ 
tuous refolution and firinnefs of mind. Addifon.- 
DETRI'TION,/. [ detero , detritus, Lat.] The aft of 
wearing away. 
DETROIT', one of tiie principal towns of the Ameri¬ 
can dates, in the north-wed territory, (ituated on the wef- 
tern bank of drait St. ClaiV, or Detroit river, between 
lake Erie and lake St. Clair, eighteen miles north of the 
wed end of the former, and nine miles below the latter. 
Fort Detroit is of an oblong figure, built with dockades, 
and advantageoufiy fituated, with one entire lide com¬ 
manding the river. It is near a mile in circumference, 
and enclofes about^oo hoiifes, and a Roman Catholic 
church, built in a regular manner, with parallel dreets, 
eroding each other at right angles. Its fituation is de‘- 
iightful, and in the center of a pleafant and fruitful 
country. For eight miles below, and the fame didance 
above, fort Detroit, the country is divided into regular 
and well-cultivated plantations ; and, from the contiguity 
of the farmers’ houfes to each .other, they appear as long 
extended villages. The' inhabitants, who were modly 
French, were about 2000 in dumber in 1778. They 
raife large docks of black cattle,f and great quantities of 
corn, which they grind by wind-mills, and manufacture 
into excellent flour. The chief trade of Detroit conlids 
in a barter of coarfe European goods with the natives for 
furs, deer-fkins, tallow, &c. By the treaty of Green¬ 
ville, Augud 3, 1793, the Indians ceded to the United 
States the pod of Detroit, and all the land to the north, 
the wed, and the fouth of it, of which the Indian title 
has been extinguiflied by gifts or grants to the French 
andEnglifli governments, and fo much more land is to 
he annexed to Detroit as fhall be comprehended between 
Rofine river on the fouth, lake St. Clair on the north, 
and a line, the general courfe whereof fhall be fix miles 
from the wed end of lake Erie and Detroit river, 
The fort, &c. was delivered up by the Englifit, in July, 
1796, according to treaty : eighteen miles north of lake 
Erie, 724 north-wed by wed from Philadelphia. Lat. 42, 
40. N. Ion. 82. 56. W. 
DETROIT' RIVER, or Strait of St. Clair, 
. 2 
DEV 
flows from lake St. Clair into the wed end of lake Erie, 
forming part of the boundary between the United States 
and Upper Canada. In afeending it, its entrance is-more 
than three miles wide, but ft perceptibly ai mini fifes ; fo 
that oppofite the fort, 18 miles from'lake Erie, it does not 
exceed half a mile in width ; from thence to lake St. 
Clair, it widens to more than a mile. The channel of the 
drait is gentle, and wide and deep enough for fhipping of 
great burden, although it is incommoded by feveral 
iflands, one of which is more than fev.en miles in length-. 
Thefe iflands are of a fertile fojl, and, from their fitua¬ 
tion, afford a very agreeable appearance. The length of 
the river is twenty-eight miles, and feveral dreams fall 
into it, chiefly from the north-wed, viz. Baiiche, Clora, 
Curriere, and Huron, rivers. 
To DETRU'DE, v. a. [detrudo, Lat.] Tothruddown; 
to force into a lower place.—Philofophers are of opi¬ 
nion, that the fouls of men may, for their mifearriages, 
be detruded into the bodies of beads. Locke. 
At thy command the vernal fun awakes 
The torpid fap, detruded to the root 
By wintry winds. - Thomfon. 
To DETRUN'CATE, v. a. [detrunco, Lat.] To lop j 
to cut ; to fhorten by deprivation of parts. > 
DETRUNCA'T 10 N,y. The aft of lopping or cut- 
ting. 
DETRU'SION,/. [from’ detrufio,- Lat.] The act of 
thruding or forcing down.—From this detrufon of the 
waters towards the fide, the parts towards the pole mud 
be much increafed. Keil. 
DET'L'ELB ACH, a town of Germany, in the circle 
of Franconia, and bilhopric of Wurzburg, on the Maine : 
nine miles eaft of Wurzburg. 
DET'TEZ, a town of France, in the department of 
the Saone and Loire, and chief place of a canton, in the 
didrict of Autun: eight miles wed-fouth-wed of Mont- 
cenis. 
DET'TINGEN, a town of Germany, in the circle of 
Franconia, and principality of Hohcnlohe : ten miles ead 
of Ohringen. 
DET'TINGEN, a village of Germany, in the 'electo¬ 
rate of Mentz, fituated on the eaft fide of the Maine, 
where’a, battle was fought between the Englifit, under 
the command of George II. in perfon, and the earl of 
Stair ; and the French, under the command of the duke 
of Noailles. The Britifli troops had advanced into the 
country, where they were in want of provifions, and in 
fucli condition, that an engagement mud have been at a 
difadvantage, and a retreat impracticable :. the impetuo- 
fity of the French led them to aftion too foon ; they paf- 
fed the defile, which they fhould have been contented to 
guard ; and, under tire conduCt of the duke of Gramont, 
their horfe charged the Englifh with great fury ; but, 
being received with intrepidity, they were obliged to 
make a precipitate retreat over the Maine, with the lofs 
of about five thoufand men. His Britannic majedy, with 
great perfonal courage, expofed himfelf to a fevere fire 
of the enemy’s cannon ; and, in the middof the engage¬ 
ment, encouraged his troops by his.prefence and exam¬ 
ple. The Englifit had the honour of the day ; but 
were afterwards obliged to leave the field of battle, which 
was taken polfeflion of by the French, who treated the 
wounded Englifh with great clemency : nine miles fouth 
of Hanau, and fix miles north-wed of Afchafienburg. 
DETTOR', a river of North Wales, which runs into 
the Tivy, in the county of Cardigan. 
DETURBA'TION, f. [deturbo, Lat.] The aCt of 
throwing down ; degradation. 
DE'VA, a town of Tranfilvania : ten miles wed of 
Millenbach. 
DE'VA, a feaport town of Spain, in the province of 
Guipufcoa : fifteen miles wed of St. Sebadian. Lat. 43. 
20. N. Ion. 14. 21. E. Peak of Teneriffe.. 
DE'VA, a river of Spain, which paffes by Mondragon, 
Placentia, &c. and runs into the lea at Deva. . 
DE'VA 
