Part 2808

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Free from immodesty or obscenity; modest.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Comely; shapely; well-formed.</def> <mark>[Archaic]</mark>

<blockquote>A sable stole of cyprus lawn Over thy <b>decent</b> shoulders drawn. <i>Milton.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>By foreign hands thy <b>decent</b> limbs composed. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>Moderate, but competent; sufficient; hence, respectable; fairly good; reasonably comfortable or satisfying; <as>as, a <ex>decent</ex> fortune; a <ex>decent</ex> person.</as></def>

<blockquote>A <b>decent</b> retreat in the mutability of human affairs. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

-- <wordforms><wf>De"cent*ly</wf>, <tt>adv.</tt> -- <wf>De"cent*ness</wf>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Decentralization</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cen`tral*i*za"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The action of decentralizing, or the state of being decentralized.</def> "The <i>decentralization</i> of France."

<i>J. P. Peters.</i>

<h1>Decentralize</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cen"tral*ize</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>v. t.</tt> <def>To prevent from centralizing; to cause to withdraw from the center or place of concentration; to divide and distribute (what has been united or concentrated); -- esp. said of authority, or the administration of public affairs.</def>

<h1>Deceptible</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cep"ti*ble</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Capable of being deceived; deceivable.</def> <i>Sir T. Browne</i>. -- <wordforms><wf>De*cep`ti*bil"i*ty</wf> <tt>(<?/)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt></wordforms>

<h1>Deception</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cep"tion</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[F. <ets>d\'82ception</ets>, L. <ets>deceptio</ets>, fr. <ets>decipere</ets>, <ets>deceptum</ets>. See <er>Deceive</er>.]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>The act of deceiving or misleading.</def>

<i>South.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The state of being deceived or misled.</def>

<blockquote>There is one thing relating either to the action or enjoyments of man in which he is not liable to <b>deception</b>. <i>South.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>That which deceives or is intended to deceive; false representation; artifice; cheat; fraud.</def>

<blockquote>There was of course room for vast <b>deception</b>. <i>Motley.</i></blockquote>

<syn>Syn. -- <er>Deception</er>, <er>Deceit</er>, <er>Fraud</er>, <er>Imposition</er>.</syn> <usage> <i>Deception</i> usually refers to the act, and <i>deceit</i> to the habit of the mind; hence we speak of a person as skilled in <i>deception</i> and addicted to <i>deceit</i>. The practice of <i>deceit</i> springs altogether from design, and that of the worst kind; but a <i>deception</i> does not always imply aim and intention. It may be undesigned or accidental. An <i>imposition</i> is an act of deception practiced upon some one to his annoyance or injury; a <i>fraud</i> implies the use of stratagem, with a view to some unlawful gain or advantage.</usage>

<h1>Deceptious</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cep"tious</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>deceptiosus</ets>.]</ety> <def>Tending deceive; delusive.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<blockquote>As if those organs had <b>deceptious</b> functions. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Deceptive</h1> <Xpage=375>

<hw>De*cep"tive</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>d\'82ceptif</ets>. See <er>Deceive</er>.]</ety> <def>Tending to deceive; having power to mislead, or impress with false opinions; <as>as, a <ex>deceptive</ex> countenance or appearance</as>.</def>