Part 2811

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Free from ambiguity; unequivocal; unmistakable; unquestionable; clear; evident; <as>as, a <ex>decided</ex> advantage</as>.</def> "A more <i>decided</i> taste for science."

<i>Prescott.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Free from doubt or wavering; determined; of fixed purpose; fully settled; positive; resolute; <as>as, a <ex>decided</ex> opinion or purpose</as>.</def>

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

<i>Blackstone.</i> </usage>

<h1>Decidedly</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid"ed*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In a decided manner; indisputably; clearly; thoroughly.</def>

<h1>Decidement</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cide"ment</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Means of forming a decision.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Beau. & Fl.</i>

<h1>Decidence</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>Dec"i*dence</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>decidens</ets> falling off.]</ety> <def>A falling off.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<i>Sir T. Browne.</i>

<h1>Decider</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid"er</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>One who decides.</def>

<h1>Decidua</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid"u*a</hw> <tt>(?; 135)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[NL., fr. L. <ets>deciduus</ets>. See <er>Deciduous</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>The inner layer of the wall of the uterus, which envelops the embryo, forms a part of the placenta, and is discharged with it.</def>

<h1>Deciduata</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid`u*a"ta</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n. pl.</tt> <ety>[NL.]</ety> <fld>(Zo\'94l.)</fld> <def>A group of Mammalia in which a decidua is thrown off with, or after, the fetus, as in the human species.</def>

<h1>Deciduate</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid"u*ate</hw> <tt>(?; 135)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <fld>(Anat.)</fld> <def>Possessed of, or characterized by, a decidua.</def>

<h1>Deciduity</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>Dec`i*du"i*ty</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>Deciduousness.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Deciduous</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid"u*ous</hw> <tt>(?; 135)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>deciduus</ets>, fr. <ets>dec<?/dere</ets> to fall off; <ets>de-</ets> + <ets>cadere</ets> to fall. See <er>Chance</er>.]</ety> <fld>(Biol.)</fld> <def>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>as, <ex>deciduous</ex> trees; the <ex>deciduous</ex> membrane.</as></def>

<h1>Deciduousness</h1> <Xpage=376>

<hw>De*cid"u*ous*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality or state of being deciduous.</def>

<h1>Decigram, Decigramme</h1> <Xpage=376>