Part 66

Dec"a*stich (?), n. [Pref. deca- + Gr. sti`chos a row, a line of writing, a verse.] A poem consisting of ten lines.

Dec"a*style (?), a. [Gr. &?;; de`ka ten + sty`los a column.] (Arch.) Having ten columns in front; -- said of a portico, temple, etc. -- n. A portico having ten pillars or columns in front.

Dec`a*syl*lab"ic (?), a. [Pref. deca- + syllabic: cf. F. décasyllabique, décasyllable.] Having, or consisting of, ten syllables.

Dec`a*to"ic (?), a. (Chem.) Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.

De*cay" (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Decayed (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decaying.] [OF. decaeir, dechaer, decheoir, F. déchoir, to decline, fall, become less; L. de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.] To pass gradually from a sound, prosperous, or perfect state, to one of imperfection, adversity, or dissolution; to waste away; to decline; to fail; to become weak, corrupt, or disintegrated; to rot; to perish; as, a tree decays; fortunes decay; hopes decay.

Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men decay.

Goldsmith.

De*cay", v. t. 1. To cause to decay; to impair. [R.]

Infirmity, that decays the wise.

Shak.

2. To destroy. [Obs.] Shak.

De*cay", n. 1. Gradual failure of health, strength, soundness, prosperity, or of any species of excellence or perfection; tendency toward dissolution or extinction; corruption; rottenness; decline; deterioration; as, the decay of the body; the decay of virtue; the decay of the Roman empire; a castle in decay.

Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more - May strengthen my decays.

Herbert.

His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual decay.

Macaulay.

Which has caused the decay of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws.

James Byrne.

2. Destruction; death. [Obs.] Spenser.

3. Cause of decay. [R.]

He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the decay of the whole age.

Bacon.

Syn. -- Decline; consumption. See Decline.

De*cayed" (?), a. Fallen, as to physical or social condition; affected with decay; rotten; as, decayed vegetation or vegetables; a decayed fortune or gentleman. -- De*cay"ed*ness (#), n.

De*cay"er (?), n. A causer of decay. [R.]

De*cease" (?), n. [OE. deses, deces, F. décès, fr. L. decessus departure, death, fr. decedere to depart, die; de- + cedere to withdraw. See Cease, Cede.] Departure, especially departure from this life; death.

His decease, which he should accomplish at Jerusalem.

Luke ix. 31.