Part 2802

<hw>Dec"a*stere</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>d\'82cast\'8are</ets>; Gr. <?/ ten + F. <ets>st\'8are</ets> a stere.]</ety> <fld>(Metric System)</fld> <def>A measure of capacity, equal to ten steres, or ten cubic meters.</def>

<h1>Decastich</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>Dec"a*stich</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>deca-</ets> + Gr. <?/ a row, a line of writing, a verse.]</ety> <def>A poem consisting of ten lines.</def>

<h1>Decastyle</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>Dec"a*style</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Gr. <?/; <?/ ten + <?/ a column.]</ety> <fld>(Arch.)</fld> <def>Having ten columns in front; -- said of a portico, temple, etc.</def> -- <def2><tt>n.</tt> <def>A portico having ten pillars or columns in front.</def></def2>

<h1>Decasyllabic</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>Dec`a*syl*lab"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Pref. <ets>deca-</ets> + <ets>syllabic</ets>: cf. F. <ets>d\'82casyllabique</ets>, <ets>d\'82casyllable</ets>.]</ety> <def>Having, or consisting of, ten syllables.</def>

<h1>Decatoic</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>Dec`a*to"ic</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Chem.)</fld> <def>Pertaining to, or derived from, decane.</def>

<h1>Decay</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cay"</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. i.</tt> <wordforms>[<tt>imp. & p. p.</tt> <er>Decayed</er> <tt>(?)</tt>; <tt>p. pr. & vb. n.</tt> <er>Decaying</er>.]</wordforms> <ety>[OF. <ets>decaeir</ets>, <ets>dechaer</ets>, <ets>decheoir</ets>, F. <ets>d\'82choir</ets>, to decline, fall, become less; L. <ets>de-</ets> + <ets>cadere</ets> to fall. See <er>Chance</er>.]</ety> <def>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>as, a tree <ex>decays</ex>; fortunes <ex>decay</ex>; hopes <ex>decay</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>Ill fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, Where wealth accumulates and men <b>decay</b>. <i>Goldsmith.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Decay</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cay"</hw>, <tt>v. t.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>To cause to decay; to impair.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>Infirmity, that <b>decays</b> the wise. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>To destroy.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Shak.</i>

<h1>Decay</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cay"</hw>, <tt>n.</tt>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>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>as, the <ex>decay</ex> of the body; the <ex>decay</ex> of virtue; the <ex>decay</ex> of the Roman empire; a castle in <ex>decay</ex>.</as></def>

<blockquote>Perhaps my God, though he be far before, May turn, and take me by the hand, and more - May strengthen my <b>decays</b>. <i>Herbert.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>His [Johnson's] failure was not to be ascribed to intellectual <b>decay</b>. <i>Macaulay.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>Which has caused the <b>decay</b> of the consonants to follow somewhat different laws. <i>James Byrne.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Destruction; death.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Spenser.</i>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Cause of decay.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>He that plots to be the only figure among ciphers, is the <b>decay</b> of the whole age. <i>Bacon.</i></blockquote>