Part 61

De*ben"ture (?; 135), n. [L. debentur they are due, fr. debere to owe; cf. F. debentur. So called because these receipts began with the words Debentur mihi.] 1. A writing acknowledging a debt; a writing or certificate signed by a public officer, as evidence of a debt due to some person; the sum thus due.

2. A customhouse certificate entitling an exporter of imported goods to a drawback of duties paid on their importation. Burrill.

It is applied in England to deeds of mortgage given by railway companies for borrowed money; also to municipal and other bonds and securities for money loaned.

De*ben"tured (?; 135), a. Entitled to drawback or debenture; as, debentured goods.

Deb"ile (?), a. [L. debilis: cf. F. débile. See Debility.] Weak. [Obs.] Shak.

De*bil"i*tant (?), a. [L. debilitants, p. pr.] (Med.) Diminishing the energy of organs; reducing excitement; as, a debilitant drug.

De*bil"i*tate (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debilitated; p. pr. & vb. n. Debilitating.] [L. debilitatus, p. p. of debilitare to debilitate, fr. debilis. See Debility.] To impair the strength of; to weaken; to enfeeble; as, to debilitate the body by intemperance.

Various ails debilitate the mind.

Jenyns.

The debilitated frame of Mr. Bertram was exhausted by this last effort.

Sir W. Scott.

De*bil`i*ta"tion (?), n. [L. debilitatio: cf. F. débilitation.] The act or process of debilitating, or the condition of one who is debilitated; weakness.

De*bil"i*ty (?), n. [L. debilitas, fr. debilis weak, prob. fr. de- + habilis able: cf. F. débilité. See Able, a.] The state of being weak; weakness; feebleness; languor.

The inconveniences of too strong a perspiration, which are debility, faintness, and sometimes sudden death.

Arbuthnot.

Syn. -- Debility, Infirmity, Imbecility. An infirmity belongs, for the most part, to particular members, and is often temporary, as of the eyes, etc. Debility is more general, and while it lasts impairs the ordinary functions of nature. Imbecility attaches to the whole frame, and renders it more or less powerless. Debility may be constitutional or may be the result or superinduced causes; Imbecility is always constitutional; infirmity is accidental, and results from sickness or a decay of the frame. These words, in their figurative uses, have the same distinctions; we speak of infirmity of will, debility of body, and an Imbecility which affects the whole man; but Imbecility is often used with specific reference to feebleness of mind.

Deb"it (?), n. [L. debitum what is due, debt, from debere to owe: cf. F. débit. See Debt.] A debt; an entry on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; -- mostly used adjectively; as, the debit side of an account.

Deb"it, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Debited; p. pr. & vb. n. Debiting.] 1. To charge with debt; -- the opposite of, and correlative to, credit; as, to debit a purchaser for the goods sold.

2. (Bookkeeping) To enter on the debtor (Dr.) side of an account; as, to debit the amount of goods sold.

Deb"it*or (?), n. [L. See Debtor.] A debtor. [Obs.] Shak.

De`bi*tu`mi*ni*za"tion (?), n. The act of depriving of bitumen.

De`bi*tu"mi*nize (?), v. t. To deprive of bitumen.

||Dé`blai" (?), n. [F.] (Fort.) The cavity from which the earth for parapets, etc. (remblai), is taken.

Deb`o*nair" (?), a. [OE. debonere, OF. de bon aire, debonaire, of good descent or lineage, excellent, debonair, F. débonnaire debonair; de of (L. de) + bon good (L. bonus) + aire. See Air, and Bounty, and cf. Bonair.] Characterized by courteousness, affability, or gentleness; of good appearance and manners; graceful; complaisant.

Was never prince so meek and debonair.

Spenser.

Deb`o*nair"i*ty (?), n. [OF. debonaireté, F. débonnaireté.] Debonairness. [Obs.] Chaucer.

Deb`o*nair"ly, adv. Courteously; elegantly.