Part 58

De*bar"rass (?), v. t. [Cf. F. débarrasser. See Embarrass.] To disembarrass; to relieve. [R.]

De*base" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debased (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Debasing.] [Pref. de- + base. See Base, a., and cf. Abase.] To reduce from a higher to a lower state or grade of worth, dignity, purity, station, etc.; to degrade; to lower; to deteriorate; to abase; as, to debase the character by crime; to debase the mind by frivolity; to debase style by vulgar words.

The coin which was adulterated and debased.

Hale.

It is a kind of taking God's name in vain to debase religion with such frivolous disputes.

Hooker.

And to debase the sons, exalts the sires.

Pope.

Syn. -- To abase; degrade. See Abase.

De*based" (?), a. (Her.) Turned upside down from its proper position; inverted; reversed.

De*base"ment (?), n. The act of debasing or the state of being debased. Milton.

De*bas"er (?), n. One who, or that which, debases.

De*bas"ing*ly, adv. In a manner to debase.

De*bat"a*ble (?), a. [Cf. OF. debatable. See Debate.] Liable to be debated; disputable; subject to controversy or contention; open to question or dispute; as, a debatable question.

The Debatable Land or Ground, a tract of land between the Esk and the Sark, claimed by both England and Scotland; the Batable Ground.

De*bate" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debating.] [OF. debatre, F. débattre; L. de + batuere to beat. See Batter, v. t., and cf. Abate.] 1. To engage in combat for; to strive for.

Volunteers . . . thronged to serve under his banner, and the cause of religion was debated with the same ardor in Spain as on the plains of Palestine.

Prescott.

2. To contend for in words or arguments; to strive to maintain by reasoning; to dispute; to contest; to discuss; to argue for and against.

A wise council . . . that did debate this business.

Shak.

Debate thy cause with thy neighbor himself.

Prov. xxv. 9.

Syn. -- To argue; discuss; dispute; controvert. See Argue, and Discuss.

De*bate", v. i. 1. To engage in strife or combat; to fight. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Well could he tourney and in lists debate.

Spenser.

2. To contend in words; to dispute; hence, to deliberate; to consider; to discuss or examine different arguments in the mind; -- often followed by on or upon.