Part 146

They see no merit or demerit in any man or any action.

Burke.

Secure, unless forfeited by any demerit or offense.

Sir W. Temple.

3. The state of one who deserves ill.

De*mer"it, v. t. [Cf. F. démériter to deserve ill. See Demerit, n.] 1. To deserve; -- said in reference to both praise and blame. [Obs.]

If I have demerited any love or thanks.

Udall.

Executed as a traitor . . . as he well demerited.

State Trials (1645).

2. To depreciate or cry down. [R.] Bp. Woolton.

De*mer"it, v. i. To deserve praise or blame.

De*merse" (?), v. t. [L. demersus, p. p. of demergere. See Merge.] To immerse. [Obs.] Boyle.

De*mersed" (?), a. (Bot.) Situated or growing under water, as leaves; submersed.

De*mer"sion (?) n. [L. demersio.] 1. The act of plunging into a fluid; a drowning.

2. The state of being overwhelmed in water, or as if in water. Ray.

De*mes"mer*ize (?), v. t. To relieve from mesmeric influence. See Mesmerize.

De*mesne" (?), n. [OE. demeine, demain, rule, demesne, OF. demeine, demaine, demeigne, domaine, power, F. domaine domain, fr. L. dominium property, right of ownership, fr. dominus master, proprietor, owner. See Dame, and cf. Demain, Domain, Danger, Dungeon.] (Law) A lord's chief manor place, with that part of the lands belonging thereto which has not been granted out in tenancy; a house, and the land adjoining, kept for the proprietor's own use. [Written also demain.] Wharton's Law Dict. Burrill.

Ancient demesne. (Eng. Law) See under Ancient.

De*mesn"i*al (?), a. Of or pertaining to a demesne; of the nature of a demesne.

Dem"i- (?). [F. demi-, fr. L. dimidius half; di- = dis- + medius middle. See Medium, and cf. Demy, Dimidiate.] A prefix, signifying half.

De*mi" (?), n. See Demy, n.

Dem"i*bas"tion (?; 106), n. [Cf. F. demi- bastion.] (Fort.) A half bastion, or that part of a bastion consisting of one face and one flank.

Dem"i*bri*gade" (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- brigade.] A half brigade.

Dem"i*ca`dence (?) n. (Mus.) An imperfect or half cadence, falling on the dominant instead of on the key note.

Dem"i*can"non (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from thirty to thirty-six pounds. Shak.

Dem"i*cir`cle (?), n. [Cf. F. demi- cercle.] An instrument for measuring angles, in surveying, etc. It resembles a protractor, but has an alidade, sights, and a compass.

Dem"i*cul"ver*in (?), n. (Mil. Antiq.) A kind of ordnance, carrying a ball weighing from nine to thirteen pounds.