Part 87

Dec"re*to*ri*ly (?), adv. In a decretory or definitive manner; by decree.

Dec"re*to*ry (?), a. [L. decretorius, from decretum. See Decree.] 1. Established by a decree; definitive; settled.

The decretory rigors of a condemning sentence.

South.

2. Serving to determine; critical. "The critical or decretory days." Sir T. Browne.

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De*crew" (?), v. i. [F. décrue, n., decrease, and décru, p. p. of décroître. See Decrease, and cf. Accrue.] To decrease. [Obs.] Spenser.

De*cri"al (?), n. [See Decry.] A crying down; a clamorous censure; condemnation by censure.

De*cri"er (?), n. One who decries.

De*crown" (?), v. t. To deprive of a crown; to discrown. [R.] Hakewill.

De`crus*ta"tion (?), n. [Cf. OF. décrustation.] The removal of a crust.

De*cry" (?), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Decried (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Decrying.] [F. décrier, OF. descrier; pref. des- (L. dis-) + crier to cry. See Cry, and cf. Descry.] To cry down; to censure as faulty, mean, or worthless; to clamor against; to blame clamorously; to discredit; to disparage.

For small errors they whole plays decry.

Dryden.

Measures which are extolled by one half of the kingdom are naturally decried by the other.

Addison.

Syn. -- To Decry, Depreciate, Detract, Disparage. Decry and depreciate refer to the estimation of a thing, the former seeking to lower its value by clamorous censure, the latter by representing it as of little worth. Detract and disparage also refer to merit or value, which the former assails with caviling, insinuation, etc., while the latter willfully underrates and seeks to degrade it. Men decry their rivals and depreciate their measures. The envious detract from the merit of a good action, and disparage the motives of him who performs it.

Dec`u*ba"tion (?), n. [From L. decubare; de- + cubare. See Decumbent.] Act of lying down; decumbence. [Obs.] Evelyn.

||De*cu"bi*tus (?), n. [NL., fr. L. de- + cubare, to lie down: cf. F. décubitus.] (Med.) An attitude assumed in lying down; as, the dorsal decubitus.

Dec"u*man (?), a. [L. decumanus of the tenth, and by metonymy, large, fr. decem ten.] Large; chief; -- applied to an extraordinary billow, supposed by some to be every tenth in order. [R.] Also used substantively. "Such decuman billows." Gauden. "The baffled decuman." Lowell.

{ De*cum"bence (?), De*cum"ben*cy (?), } n. The act or posture of lying down.

The ancient manner of decumbency.

Sir T. Browne.

De*cum"bent (?), a. [L. decumbens, -entis, p. pr. of decumbere; de- + cumbere (only in comp.), cubare to lie down.] 1. Lying down; prostrate; recumbent.

The decumbent portraiture of a woman.

Ashmole.

2. (Bot.) Reclining on the ground, as if too weak to stand, and tending to rise at the summit or apex; as, a decumbent stem. Gray.

De*cum"bent*ly, adv. In a decumbent posture.