Part 183

Dep"re*date, v. i. To take plunder or prey; to commit waste; as, the troops depredated on the country.

Dep`re*da"tion (?), n. [L. depraedatio: cf. F. déprédation.] The act of depredating, or the state of being depredated; the act of despoiling or making inroads; as, the sea often makes depredation on the land.

Dep"re*da`tor (?), n. [L. depraedator.] One who plunders or pillages; a spoiler; a robber.

Dep"re*da`to*ry (?), a. Tending or designed to depredate; characterized by depredation; plundering; as, a depredatory incursion.

De*pred"i*cate (?), v. t. [Pref. de- (intensive) + predicate.] To proclaim; to celebrate. [R.]

Dep`re*hend" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Deprehended; p. pr. & vb. n. Deprehending.] [L. deprehendere, deprehensum; de- + prehendere to lay hold of, seize. See Prehensile.] 1. To take unawares or by surprise; to seize, as a person commiting an unlawful act; to catch; to apprehend.

The deprehended adulteress.Jer.

Taylor.

2. To detect; to discover; to find out.

The motion . . . are to be deprehended by experience.

Bacon.

Dep`re*hen"si*ble (?), a. That may be caught or discovered; apprehensible. [Obs.] Petty.

-- Dep`re*hen"si*ble*ness, n. [Obs.]

Dep`re*hen"sion (?), n. [L. deprehensio.] A catching; discovery. [Obs.] Bp. Hall.

De*press" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Depressed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Depressing.] [L. depressus, p. p. of deprimere; de- + premere to press. See Press.] 1. To press down; to cause to sink; to let fall; to lower; as, to depress the muzzle of a gun; to depress the eyes. "With lips depressed." Tennyson.

2. To bring down or humble; to abase, as pride.

3. To cast a gloom upon; to sadden; as, his spirits were depressed.

4. To lessen the activity of; to make dull; embarrass, as trade, commerce, etc.

5. To lessen in price; to cause to decline in value; to cheapen; to depreciate.

6. (Math.) To reduce (an equation) in a lower degree.

To depress the pole (Naut.), to cause the sidereal pole to appear lower or nearer the horizon, as by sailing toward the equator.

Syn. -- To sink; lower; abase; cast down; deject; humble; degrade; dispirit; discourage.

De*press", a. [L. depressus, p. p.] Having the middle lower than the border; concave. [Obs.]

If the seal be depress or hollow.

Hammond.

De*press"ant (?), n. (Med.) An agent or remedy which lowers the vital powers.

De*pressed" (?), a. 1. Pressed or forced down; lowed; sunk; dejected; dispirited; sad; humbled.

2. (Bot.) (a) Concave on the upper side; -- said of a leaf whose disk is lower than the border. (b) Lying flat; -- said of a stem or leaf which lies close to the ground.