Part 72

De*chris"tian*ize (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Dechristianized (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Dechristianizing.] To turn from, or divest of, Christianity.

De*cid"a*ble (?), a. Capable of being decided; determinable.

De*cide" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decided; p. pr. & vb. n. Deciding.] [L. decdere; de- + caedere to cut, cut off; prob. akin to E. shed, v.: cf. F. décider. Cf. Decision.] 1. To cut off; to separate. [Obs.]

Our seat denies us traffic here; The sea, too near, decides us from the rest.

Fuller.

2. To bring to a termination, as a question, controversy, struggle, by giving the victory to one side or party; to render judgment concerning; to determine; to settle.

So shall thy judgment be; thyself hast decided it.

1 Kings xx. 40.

The quarrel toucheth none but us alone; Betwixt ourselves let us decide it then.

Shak.

De*cide", v. i. To determine; to form a definite opinion; to come to a conclusion; to give decision; as, the court decided in favor of the defendant.

Who shall decide, when doctors disagree?

Pope.

De*cid"ed (?), a. 1. Free from ambiguity; unequivocal; unmistakable; unquestionable; clear; evident; as, a decided advantage. "A more decided taste for science." Prescott.

2. Free from doubt or wavering; determined; of fixed purpose; fully settled; positive; resolute; as, a decided opinion or purpose.

Syn. -- Decided, Decisive. We call a thing decisive when it has the power or quality of deciding; as, a decisive battle; we speak of it as decided when it is so fully settled as to leave no room for doubt; as, a decided preference, a decided aversion. Hence, a decided victory is one about which there is no question; a decisive victory is one which ends the contest. Decisive is applied only to things; as, a decisive sentence, a decisive decree, a decisive judgment. Decided is applied equally to persons and things. Thus we speak of a man as decided in his whole of conduct; and as having a decided disgust, or a decided reluctance, to certain measures. "A politic caution, a guarded circumspection, were among the ruling principles of our forefathers in their most decided conduct." Burke. "The sentences of superior judges are final, decisive, and irrevocable. Blackstone.

De*cid"ed*ly, adv. In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly; thoroughly.

De*cide"ment (?), n. Means of forming a decision. [Obs.] Beau. & Fl.

Dec"i*dence (?), n. [L. decidens falling off.] A falling off. [R.] Sir T. Browne.

De*cid"er (?), n. One who decides.

||De*cid"u*a (?; 135), n. [NL., fr. L. deciduus. See Deciduous.] (Anat.) The inner layer of the wall of the uterus, which envelops the embryo, forms a part of the placenta, and is discharged with it.

||De*cid`u*a"ta (?), n. pl. [NL.] (Zoöl.) A group of Mammalia in which a decidua is thrown off with, or after, the fetus, as in the human species.

De*cid"u*ate (?; 135), a. (Anat.) Possessed of, or characterized by, a decidua.

Dec`i*du"i*ty (?), n. Deciduousness. [R.]

De*cid"u*ous (?; 135), a. [L. deciduus, fr. dec&?;dere to fall off; de- + cadere to fall. See Chance.] (Biol.) Falling off, or subject to fall or be shed, at a certain season, or a certain stage or interval of growth, as leaves (except of evergreens) in autumn, or as parts of animals, such as hair, teeth, antlers, etc.; also, shedding leaves or parts at certain seasons, stages, or intervals; as, deciduous trees; the deciduous membrane.

De*cid"u*ous*ness, n. The quality or state of being deciduous.

{ Dec"i*gram, Dec"i*gramme } (?), n. [F. décigramme; pref. déci- tenth (fr. L. decimus) + gramme.] A weight in the metric system; one tenth of a gram, equal to 1.5432 grains avoirdupois.

{ Dec"il, Dec"ile } (?), n. [F. décil, fr. L. decem ten&?; cf. It. decile.] (Astrol.) An aspect or position of two planets, when they are distant from each other a tenth part of the zodiac, or 36°.